Abta has renewed calls for a UK-wide cut in APD after Scotland confirmed plans to halve the controversial tax.
In response to the publication of the Scottish government’s Programme for Government 2015-16, Abta said it was “the only sensible option” for England to join Scotland by scrapping the duty.
Head of public affairs, Stephen D’Alfonso, said: “With the Scottish government reaffirming its commitment to reduce APD by 50%, and eventually abolishing it, Abta believes that the only sensible approach to ensure fairness for passengers across Great Britain, while improving the tax competitiveness of the whole of the UK, is for the government to significantly reduce APD, initially by matching the cuts promised in Scotland, with a view to abolishing it altogether in the life of this parliament.”
Commenting on Abta’s submission to HM Treasury’s paper on how to protect England’s regional airports from the impact of APD devolution in Scotland D’Alfonso added: “Our submission highlights that the proposed solutions will add layers of complexity to APD for passengers and businesses while distorting the marketplace.
“Abta believes that any solution must result in a fair and equal air tax regime across the UK, and a cut anywhere in Great Britain must to be matched immediately by the same reduction elsewhere,” he said.
The British Air Transport Association has welcomed the move by Scotland to “reduce the burden of APD by 50 per cent from 2018.
“Halving the UK’s current rates would bring Scotland broadly in line with Germany’s aviation tax,” BATA’s CEO Nathan Stower said.