Apd News
Olympic year could be crippling for inbound tourism due to aviation tax rises
A new survey of British companies and organisations that depend on inbound tourism finds that the Government’s plans to for a double-inflation increase in the UK’s aviation taxes (already the highest in the world) next year could see bookings in 2012 fall by 4.75%, compared with 2011.
Minister Bartlett urges all Caribbean tourism interests to join APD debate
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett has charged all tourism interests in the Caribbean to join in the debate regarding the reversal or adjustment being sought in the application of the controversial Air Passenger Duty, APD, on travellers from the United Kingdom to the region.
Caribbean Tourism Organisation welcomes APD cut in Northern Ireland
Officials at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation have welcomed a decision by UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne to cut Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights departing from Northern Ireland. The decision was confirmed at the end of September and will see the direct long-haul rate of APD fall to the lower short-haul rate - £12 per passenger in economy and £24 for business and first class passengers.
Air Passenger Duty cut for Northern Ireland
Air Passenger Duty on direct long-haul routes from Northern Ireland airports is to be cut. The direct long-haul rate of APD will fall to the lower short-haul rate - £12 per passenger in economy and £24 for business and first class passengers, chancellor George Osborne confirmed earlier.
British Airways call for APD reform
British Airways has called for a three-pronged approach to reform of Air Passenger Duty to make it more consistent with the government’s overriding objective of economic growth. The call comes as figures from the Office for National Statistic reveal a sharp fall in consumer spending during April which, coupled to the increase in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits revealed yesterday, could suggest the economy may be slipping back toward recession.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary calls for hotel tax
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has called for taxation to be switched from airline to hotel rooms to sustain Britain’s tourism economy, in a move that would mirror United States policy. The outspoken aviation mogul said a £1 per night tax on rooms could recover a significant proportion of what is now raised by APD, while encouraging both international visitors and outbound travel by cutting costs.
APD and EasyJet Reactive Statement
Chris Brown, co-founder of online travel agency sunshine.co.uk, commented on the news that EasyJet has warned against a rise in Air Passenger Duty:
World Travel & Tourism Council attacks German passenger departure tax
As millions of people prepare to fly around the world for the holiday season, Germany’s tourism industry could lose out to rival destinations, the World Travel & Tourism Council has warned. The organisation – which represents the world’s leading private tourism operators - points to the German government’s recently enacted air passenger departure tax, which has already caused airberlin and Ryanair to cut capacity.
UK government urged to cut air passenger duty
Airport operator BAA has urged the British government to follow the lead of Ireland and rescind recent increases in air passenger duty. Yesterday the Irish government announced it would cut its Air Travel Tax to €3 from its current rate of €10 despite the ongoing financial crisis.
Government bans new runways at UK’s three largest airports
The government has placed a ban on new runways at Britain’s three biggest airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - as part of the nation’s first major aviation policy review in seven years.
Caribbeans urge Britain to scrap APD to save tourism
A high-level Caribbean delegation has begun a three-day lobby in the UK today against what it sees as unfair increases in airport passenger duty to the region that could have a crippling impact on its tourism industry.
German aviation tax comes into force
German passenger carriers have been left reeling, as the national government implemented a new levy on flight tickets. As part of a wider austerity drive, German chancellor Angela Merkel stated the tax would raise €1 billion by 2014.