Treating all long haul flights the same is a welcomed economic initiative from the Chancellor according to the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK).¨

Dale Keller, chief executive, said “The Government has finally acknowledged what the industry and business knew all along – that the highest rates of aviation tax in the world were a brake on driving the UK’s economic growth with emerging markets.

“With regards to new route support from regional airports, we will need to evaluate any potential competitive distortion that could result, however, the Government’s intentions are clearly supportive.

“Of course we would like the Chancellor to go further still on reducing APD but this is a step in the right direction and BAR UK will continue its engagement with the Government to deliver the fair and proportionate aviation tax that the UK deserves.”