ABTA is urging the Government to take a lead from the Dutch Government and scrap Air Passenger Duty. The Government has consistently ignored warnings about the damage caused to the UK’s economy by the tax and has raised it to some of the highest levels in the world. As the UK enters a severe recession APD will exacerbate the problems already being encountered by the UK’s aviation and tourist industries with significant falls in passenger numbers. The announcement by the Dutch Government that it plans to scrap its airport tax as part of its economic support measures will have the added effect of encouraging airlines to bypass the UK and reroute to Dutch airports with further damage to the UK’s economy.

Andy Cooper ABTA Head of Development said “The UK Government must finally see sense and scrap or reduce Air Passenger Duty if we are to avoid significant damage to the UK’s aviation and tourist industries. The Dutch Government’s proposal to bin their own aviation tax will greatly benefit their own economy with the added effect of yet more airlines giving up on over-taxed Britain and rerouting to the continent.”