First Choice launches consumer campaign against APD rise

First Choice Holidays is to launch a consumer awareness campaign against increased Air Passenger Duty.

It is calling on its customers to make their views known by sending a postcard urging Gordon Brown to reconsider.

Leaflets will be issued to holidaymakers on its aircraft and in its retail stores. Inside customers will find a detachable postcard addressed to Gordon Brown complaining about the tax.

Customers do not need to pay for postage as a member of First Choice staff who will send it on their behalf.

The information will also be put onto the company’s website and emailed to its customer database.

First Choice Mainstream managing director Dermot Blastland said: “The Government’s position on this issue is frankly ridiculous. Gordon Brown is presenting himself as a leader on green issues, but this tax has nothing to do with protecting the environment. The whole thing is just a cynical tax to help inflate the Government’s coffers and the people who suffer are our customers.

“Customers need to be aware that we are simply acting as Gordon Brown’s tax collectors. The cost of the tax on retrospective bookings to First Choice alone is £5 million and in the majority of cases, customers who have already booked will not be asked to pay the additional tax. However, we are having to re-consider our position on some bookings.”

First Choice said customers travelling in February and March who have already settled their final invoice will not be required to pay the additional cost.

First Choice recently announced the introduction of its own carbon offsetting scheme, in which it will match customer donations £1 for £1. It claims a 100% uptake of the scheme would ensure that the majority of First Choice Airways emissions would be offset.

The tour operator has estimated that the increase in revenue generated for APD by First Choice Mainstream Sector alone will be £21,000,000 per year

It argues that that is three times higher than the total cost of offsetting CO2 emissions by First Choice customers, based on a spot price of carbon and including radiative forcing.

It also pointed out that the tax bears no relation to a number of measures First Choice’s airline has in place to reduce fuel usage.

Thomson, meanwhile, is encouraging its customers to sign a petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Air-Travel.

By Bev Fearis