The Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax, due to double next month, would have to increase far more to discourage holidaymakers from taking flights, according to a major survey. APD for economy travellers on short-haul flights, due to rise to £10 from February 1, would need to go up to £78 to put off would-be flyers, research from Halifax Travel Insurance found, and reported by the Press Association.

And APD for economy travellers on long-haul flights, which is rising to £40, would have to increase to £128 to deter flyers.

The poll of 103,345 adults found that it was Londoners who would be most immune to any APD rises, while those living in the North West of England would be the first to be put off by big APD increases.
——-