UK: Board of Airline Representatives calls for help in troubled times
A collection of 90 airlines from around the world have asked the Government to consider suspending air passenger duty until three months after the war in Iraq has ended. And, according to a report in The Guardian, the Board of Airline Representatives is demanding that BAA delays a proposed nine per cent rise in charges for using Heathrow airport.
The organisation, which represents such international carriers as BA, United Airlines, American Airlines and Singapore Airlines, issued a statement saying that the military action in Iraq had “intensified the negative business environment” of the aviation industry.
The statement read: “Traffic has diminished and not just to the areas affected by military operations but around the world. Passengers, understandably, are delaying plans at a time of international uncertainty.”
The Guardian says the Government is “sceptical” about the need to drop the tax, and that BAA is “unlikely” to reconsider increasing passenger charges by 43p per passenger; the rise is due to some into effect on Monday.
