Air Passenger Duty may cause British families to abandon planned flights altogether, according to members of parliament.

Findings from a survey carried out by ComRes on behalf of trade body ABTA reveal one in four MPs feel plans for increases in aviation tax in 2012 may stop ordinary families from flying.

The news comes as 20 cross-party MPs and peers write to the chancellor urging him to re-consider plans to hit air travellers in 2012 with unprecedented tax increases.
MPs’ Survey:

The chancellor is expected to confirm a double-inflation rise in Air Passenger Duty in 2012.

Next year the UK also enters the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), further increasing the price of flying for passengers.

In a letter to chancellor George Osborne, a group of MPs and peers “urge the Government to reconsider its plans to for a double-inflation rise in APD in 2012”.

There is also widespread opposition to aviation tax from flyers.

In a survey conducted by ComRes in February this year, almost two thirds of consumers said the current level of tax was too high.

Brian Donohoe, chairman of an influential All Party Group on aviation, said: “With so many MPs concerned about the impact of rising aviation duty on ordinary families, the treasury should change course and suspend its plans for the damaging tax rises.

“The Government should be trying to support ordinary families, not adding to the financial pressures many are facing.”

APD was cited over the weekend as one of the reasons British Airways had cut departures to the Caribbean by chief executive Keith Williams.