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Heathrow pushes for return of tax-free shopping
The UK’s busiest airport kicked off 2024 with a positive jump in passenger traffic.
January passenger numbers were almost six million, up nearly 10% from a year ago.
Last January it handled 5.4 million air travellers.
It is now just below pre-Covid levels.
The airport is now prepping for the year’s first peak travel period with February half term holidays but says the lack of tax-free shopping for tourists is hurting UK businesses.
“While exports are thriving, Britain has shut the door on home grown growth, turning away international shoppers through the tourist tax,” the airport said.
“It is tarnishing the UK’s reputation as a competitive country to spend and do business with.”
The airport has teamed up with the British Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses to push for the reinstatement of tax-free shopping.
Tax free shopping was abolished during Covid.
They are lobbying to have it included in the spring Budget.
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