Increased Air Passenger Duty is already impacting the way overseas visitors view travel to the UK, according to airline body BAR UK.
The association, which represents over 90 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with the government, regulators and airport operators, says it has already identified several reports in the overseas press describing the UK as more expensive.
“We have seen different reports from Forbes.com based in New York, the Orlando Sentinel of Florida, and the Royal Gazette of Bermuda,” it said in a statement.
“Common to all three stories is that it is now more expensive to travel to the UK or, more pertinently, more expensive to leave.”
BAR UK chief executive Mike Carrivickadded: ‘Having already indicated our concerns that increases in APD will make the UK a more expensive place to visit, it is very sad to see the truth of this being expressed immediately after they took effect.
“Our member airlines have always done everything they can to continue to promote the UK, and it is a great pity that they now also have to combat increased air taxation by the UK Government as part of that process.”
By Bev Fearis
