High profile MPs including Priti Patel – former Secretary of State for International Development – and Sir Graham Brady MP, Chairman of the 1922 Committee, are backing the ‘A Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign. 
 
Ahead of the Budget on 29 October we’re keen to get as many MPs as possible behind the campaign and are encouraging ABTA Members to write to their MP. A template letter is available to download from the campaign website. 
 
The A Fair Tax on Flying campaign has been calling on the Government to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) by 50% across the UK, highlighting that the UK has the highest APD tax in the Europe and is among the highest in the world. Cutting it by half would bring the UK into line with our closest competitors in Europe, and provide a timely boost to UK connectivity.
 
In a recent industry report, it was revealed that over 65 potential new air links from the UK have been lost as a result of APD – routes that could have been viable without the burden of APD.
 
As well as supporting the ongoing campaign activities, we also raised APD in our submission to Government about the Budget. We highlighted that while we continue to believe that a 50% reduction in APD would deliver benefits to the UK economy, we also stressed that it is essential APD does not increase any further at this crucial time. 
 
Visit A Fair Tax on Flying campaign website to find out more. 

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive