Despite representations by airlines, airports and all manner of associations and organisations the Treasury will expect to be paid double the previous duty for all air travel from today (1 February).
Announced to the House of Commons on 6 December, and to a stunned Aviation Club minutes later, the tax has to be paid by someone, whether money had changed hands at that point or not. Passengers who had already booked and paid for their flight would be charged regardless. Whoever actually pays depends on the airline. With British Airways, and many mainline carriers, the fee is being absorbed, some of the budget airlines, such as Ryanair, are demanding payment prior to arrival at the airport, whilst others, typically easyJet, are asking passengers to pay in advance, but will take the difference at the terminal.
easyJet has gone one step further. Senior managers, dressed as tax collectors (pictured) are standing by to explain to passengers why they have to pay additional air passenger duty. The airline has sent emails to passengers informing them of this extra charge and many have already paid the difference. However, some remain unaware and the airline will have to collect money from passengers at the airport. "The government has, in effect, made easyJet the tax collector," a spokesman said. Within the EU/European Economic Area and related countries, passengers will now be required to pay ”10 in the lowest class of travel, and ”20 in any other class.
Commenting on the issue Mike Carrivick, chief executive of BAR UK (Board of Airline Representatives in the UK), said: ”The announcement that APD will be doubled merely shows that airlines, and their passengers, are being hit for the sake of taxation, with no environmental benefits being achieved. Taxation is a blunt instrument, and always will be.
”The Chancellor also fails to recognise air travel as a form of public transport. The same people that use trains and coaches are also users of the air travel system. It is timely to remind him that air travel provides safe, reliable mass transport at no cost to the public purse, but with great economic benefit for the country, and its regions. This rise will not only affect those living in the UK, but every overseas visitor as well. Air taxes are already a significant part of the total cost paid, so this increase could be the one that persuades visitors to go elsewhere.”
A report in ”The Times” on Thursday morning claims that the tax is illegal. At the other end of the scale Ryanair will actually profit from the increase as it has the highest 'no show' factor of any airline and refuses to credit tax for passengers who have not flown.