Air duty will rise despite widespread industry protests

Air tax on flights from the UK will go up again in April 2012 despite a major campaign by airlines and travel companies.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne confirmed that the tax, known as Air Passenger Duty, will increase on all flights in his autumn statement last week. The Government is due to unveil the finer details of the changes this week (December 6).

APD was first introduced in November 1994 and has since risen from £5 per person flying short-haul in economy class to £12. It will rise again to £13 in April, while the tax on economy medium-haul flights will increase from £60 to £65 and on longer flights from £75 to £81.

Economy flights to long-haul destinations, like Australia and Singapore, will rise from £85 to £92.

Passengers flying in premium economy, business class and first class will have to pay double these rates.

More than seven million people who have already booked flights departing after April 1 next year will be hit retrospectively by the rise.

EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, traditional business rivals, have joined together to launch a major offensive against the tax.

The chief executives of the airlines issues a joint statement, saying: ‘By increasing this tax by double the rate of inflation, [the Chancellor] is further deterring inbound tourism and foreign investment, and choking off yet more job opportunities for young people.’

Virgin Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Julie Southern said: ‘It’s completely unacceptable that millions of passengers now face an additional tax bill on tickets they have already paid for.

"This stealth tax, hidden by the Government in the small print of a secondary document, isn’t a tax on airlines, it is a tax on passengers - tourists, businesses and British families alike.’

[Photography: istockphotos.com]