The Taxpayers’ Alliance has come out in support of the Fair Tax on Flying campaign against APD.
The UK think-tank, which fights for lower taxes, is urging its supporters to email their MPs using the standardised template on the campaign website www.afairtaxonflying.org
Taxpayers’ Alliance campaign director, Emma Boon said: "Britain’s punitive taxes on flights, now the highest in the world, are an incredible burden on families taking a well-earned break. Jobs are also at stake as tourists and business travellers choose a destination to visit or invest where they won’t get ripped off. Air Passenger Duty should really be abolished, but the very least politicians can do is cut this tax to a fairer level."
The Fair Tax on Flying campaign has been in development since the April Budget, when the Chancellor confirmed an 8% rise in APD.
New calculations by the Airport Operators Association (AOA) have found that a family flying from the UK in economy class now pays, on average, 3.75 times more in tax, than if they were making the trip from another country in Europe that levies an air passenger tax.
Many European countries including Belgium, Holland and Denmark have abandoned their aviation taxes, due to the negative effects on their economies.
By Diane Evans
