A rise in Air Pasenger Duty comes into force yesterday, despite fierce campaigning from the travel industry.
The new rates mean a family of four flying in economy class to Florida will now pay £268 in APD, while a family of four flying to the Caribbean will pay £332.
Campaigners say the tax hits hard-working families where it hurts, with many families having to pay hundreds of pounds in air passenger taxes on their annual getaway.
"The Chancellor’s decision to proceed with yet another APD increase from this April will only make the situation worse, and so the Airport Operators Association – together with A Fair Tax on Flying alliance – will continue to make the case for fairer levels of APD ahead of this year’s Autumn Statement," said AOA chief executive Darren Caplan.
"The Treasury needs to conduct an independent study into the impact these shocking levels of APD are having on the wider UK economy, and the damage it is doing to our competitiveness, our reputation as an outward looking trading nation, and our ability to generate jobs and growth in these tough economic times."
Simon Buck, chief executive of the British Air Transport Association, another member of the Fair Tax on Flying campaign, added: "It’s not good enough to continue increase APD when the clear economic evidence shows that it both damages the UK economy and adds hundreds of pounds onto the annual tax bill of many families who fly overseas every year," said
As part of the campaign, 200,000 people wrote to their local MP in 2012 calling for the Treasury to undertake a review into the economic impacts of APD.
But some have questioned whether the industry-wide campaign has lacked clout and direction.
by Bev Fearis
