ABTA, the UK travel agents' association, today (June 3) called on the travel industry to battle possible government plans to raise taxes on long haul flights.
The Association said it wanted its members, business travellers, holidaymakers and all industry figures to "barrage" their MPs over their concerns about higher taxes.
The UK's new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has said it will reform the current and controversial Airport Passenger Duty (APD).
It is expected to replace it with a per-plane duty (PPD), a tax levied on planes rather than passengers.
But the government has not said it will lift the increase in APD planned to come into force this November.
APD, which was also increased last November, is then due to rise by £1 per passenger on short haul flights, £12 on medium haul and between £25 and £30 on long haul journeys.
ABTA, whose members are mainly in the leisure travel industry, said it "cautiously" welcomed the tax switch from passengers to planes.
But it warned against "aggressive and punitive rates of tax which will price average travellers out of foreign holidays, endanger jobs and damage the UK's position as a global aviation hub".
Mark Tanzer, ABTA's ceo, said: "A rise in aviation tax levels will put pressure on jobs and damage local economies reliant on tourist expenditure both here and abroad at a time when as an industry, we are already suffering.
"A fairer banding system which is more closely aligned with distance travelled will be absolutely necessary to ensure that there is no further financial burden on those who can least afford it.
"We'll be pressing for PPD to be fully consulted upon so that the poorest nations and travellers are not hit the hardest."
www.abta.com