(Alliance News) - Taxes on long-haul flights are to rise in the UK despite airlines calling for them to be scrapped.
Air Passenger Duty rates for departures from Britain will increase by GBP2 to GBP82 for travellers with economy tickets, and by GBP5 to GBP181 for those in premium cabins.
The change, revealed in Treasury documents accompanying UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak's government budget, is in line with the retail prices index measure of inflation.
Short-haul rates remain frozen.
The announcement was made just hours after Ryanair Holdings PLC Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told the Transport Select Committee that APD is "ridiculous" and "hits the poorest people hardest".
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, described the rise as "a very damaging blow to an industry already on its knees".
Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said it is "an odd time" to increase the cost of flying.
He added: "From testing costs to airports and agents on the brink of failure, there are a number of more pressing matters in travel that are on the government's plate."
The aviation industry has long called for APD to be reduced or even abolished, claiming it is an unfair burden on passengers and one of the highest taxes of its kind in the world.
Regional airline Flybe, which collapsed in March 2020, blamed APD for contributing to its financial struggles.
Airlines and airports have been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic and issued angry responses to Sunak's budget.
Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye said: "The chancellor talks about protecting jobs and livelihoods, fixing the public finances and laying the foundations for the future economy, and yet he continues to ignore the UK's aviation sector.
"He clearly doesn't understand that all three depend on a strong aviation sector delivering the trade, tourism and investment that power vast parts of the British economy.
"Failing to even mention aviation, let alone provide full business rates relief for airports in today's budget, is a missed opportunity to ensure the sector can play a key role in the country's economic recovery.
"The absence of any meaningful support from the government in the face of tough restrictions which have ground travel to a halt will weaken the sector and limit UK growth at the time it is needed most."
Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots' union Balpa, said he was "utterly dismayed" that Sunak can "ignore this industry, which is clearly going to be the last to recover from Covid".
He claimed the Budget "could push many airlines further into a death spiral and cost even more jobs".
He added: "Sunak has again failed to offer any support to aviation and has ignored our calls to reduce APD and in fact done just the opposite. This is another body blow to an industry that is suffering acutely in this crisis."
By Neil Lancefield, PA Transport Correspondent
source: PA
Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
