The government is to scrap plans for an aircraft duty to replace Air Passenger Duty.
Instead a new four-band APD will be introduced on November 1, 2009 so those flying the furthest, and making the most envionmental impact, will pay the most.
The announcement was made by Chancellor Alistair Darling in his pre-Budget Report.
He said the proposed Aircraft Duty was not the right conclusion as it would harm the aviation industry.
The reformed APD will be introduced in a year’s time set around four distance bands, each set at intervals of 2,000 miles from London.
“This reform will ensure that those flying farther and therefore contributing more to emissions from aviation will pay more,” the pre-Budget report says.
by Phil Davies
