Renewed calls for a reduction in Air Passenger Duty following a BATA report showing the UK tax as the highest in the world.
The report, ‘Flying High? How Competitive is APD?’, carried out for BATA by Steer Davies Gleave, outlines the rise in APD rates from £331million in 1994 to £3.1 billion in 2015.
It also shows the UK APD is the highest aviation tax in Europe for short-haul and long-haul flights and the highest long-haul rate in the world.
Nathan Stower, chief executive of BATA, said: "This report presents a stark and sobering assessment of how internationally uncompetitive the UK’s tax on flying is. It also clearly illustrates the competitive advantage Scotland will gain over the rest of the UK after a halving of APD following devolution of the tax."
Craig Kreeger, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "This report demonstrates that the long haul rate of tax on UK air passengers is the highest in the world.
"The Government have made some positive steps forward over the last two years, but to become internationally competitive and support our economy this tax on exporters must be urgently reduced at the upcoming Budget."
