APD hikes will 'suffocate airline industry'
June 2, 2009Controversial plans to double Air Passenger Duty (APD) have been labelled "economic madness" by the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA).
General Secretary Jim McAuslan said that the move would "suffocate" the airline industry at a time when it is already suffering from the global downturn.
His warning accompanied research which found that nine out of ten Brits would rather stop over in Amsterdam than pay the full levy on a long-haul flight.
Holidaymakers travelling in economy class presently pay £10 APD on short-haul flights and £40 on flights to destinations outside of Europe.
Under the proposed overhaul those charges will more than double by November 2009, while business class passengers will pay as much as £170.
"At a time when the worldwide aviation industry is suffering, the UK Chancellor is going to suffocate his very own industry," Mr McAuslan complained.
"This could only be dreamt up in the UK. The Dutch have recently scrapped their tax on passenger flights to try to attract more business from neighbouring countries and good old Britain is happy to oblige. This is economic madness." (See related Cheapflights story.)
Mr McAuslan's comments come alongside similar remarks from Virgin Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson, who told TravelMole that APD is now the "poll tax of the skies".
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