United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
BAR UK joins the fight against Tory plans for fuel duty
The Conservative Party has “jumped on the band wagon that is already rolling in the wrong direction”, according to BAR UK.
It released a statement today in response to Tory proposals for a ‘Green Air Miles Allowance’, where frequent flyers would pay a higher rate of tax, plus a fuel duty or VAT on domestic flights, or replacing Air Passenger Duty with a per-flight tax linked to carbon emissions.
“Yet again, aviation is being used as an easy target, and continuing the myth that flights are solely responsible for climate change – they are not!” said the BAR UK statement.
“The Conservative proposals perpetuate the tactic of using a blunt instrument against airlines and their passengers, and using the revenues generated, for non-environmental purposes.”
BAR UK, which represents over 90 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, Government departments, regulators and airport operators, said aviation is a critical component to the economic well-being of all countries.
“Holidaymakers leaving the UK are just one part of the scenario, but critics simply overlook all the other aspects of air travel including outbound business travellers, inward travellers of all sorts, plus the considerable amount of freight carried by air, all of which constitute such an important of the UK’s overall economy.
“The impact of these proposals would be felt even more in the regions, where air travel is so vital for connecting flights, or in saving time compared to other means of travel.”
BARUK said it was encouraged that the Conservatives recognises that APD is an ineffective tool.
“However, replacing one ineffective tax with another is not the solution. Smart, market-based solutions, such as carbon trading schemes, should be considered, rather than additional taxes that bring no environmental benefit.”
By Bev Fearis
Related News Stories:
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Tricia Handley-Hughes of Inteletravel announces the location for the TravelQuest 2025 conference
Insights from James Ferrara on Inteletravel’s Growth and Future
Tricia Handley-Hughes on Inteletravel’s Growth and Challenges
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
BA pilot dies during layover
Boy falls to death on cruise ship