ABTA to Write to German Government re New Aviation Tax
Date published: 02 September 2010ABTA is to seek confirmation from the German Government that in two years time they will axe a new aviation tax which will add 8 Euros on flights to the UK. The German Government confirmed the introduction of the tax on 1 September as part of a package to reduce the German deficit. However it has not reconfirmed that it will axe the tax in 2012 when the EU’s emission trading scheme [ETS] comes into effect.
Luke Pollard ABTA Head of Public Affairs said “The introduction of this tax is a seriously regressive step that will impact on UK visitor numbers to Germany and Germans coming to the UK. The German Government has previously stated that this tax would be a temporary measure and abolished in 2012 when the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme [ETS] comes into effect and we will be writing to obtain confirmation that this is still their intention. In addition ABTA also believes strongly that the UK’s own aviation tax APD should also be reconsidered when we enter ETS in two years time.”
In 2008 the Dutch Government abolished a similar tax giving the reason that the revenue raised was far less than the revenue lost due to a decrease in traffic as customers switched to competing airports in France and Germany.
For further information
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514,
John deVial, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515
Out of Hours: Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
Notes to editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,351 members with 5,700 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators.
ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements.
In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.
As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation works to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers in the UK and EU.
