The A Fair Tax on Flying (AFTOF) alliance, of which ABTA is a founding Member, is encouraging the industry to get behind its campaign to fight potential Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates increases in the November Budget. AFTOF has secured a number of successes in the past, the latest being the freeze on both short-haul and economy long-haul rates announced last year. However, with the Government facing a number of financial challenges, including the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and the need to raise revenue to fund commitments to the NHS, it is essential that the industry continues to unite to keep up the political pressure to resist any further increases in APD. Increasing APD would send out a very negative message to other countries at a time when the UK should be seeking to build closer ties internationally, not least as the UK already has amongst the highest aviation taxes in the world particularly for long haul and business class tickets. So please give your support to the campaign, and encourage your colleagues as well, by writing to your MPs to get them to lobby the Chancellor. This can be done easily and quickly through the AFTOF campaign website, which you can find here.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive