A double inflation rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) will have a “devastating” impact on charities which carry out humanitarian aid, Ajaya Sodha has warned.
Sodha, who is due to take over as chairman of the UK Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) next month, is chairman of Key Travel, a leading TMC working with non-profit organisations.
He called for an easing of the “burden” on charities after the UK government made it clear it intended to go ahead with the planned APD increase next spring.
Sodha said that his charity clients spent £3.2m on APD last year with one organisation having to find an extra £80,000 to cover the tax.
He added: “With the new EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) coming into effect in January 2012 which will see companies pay when they exceed their carbon ration, the environmental argument for APD no longer stands.
“The Government has now admitted that this tax is for revenue purposes only.
“Therefore I believe there is a strong case for making APD concessions for charities carrying out vital and often life-saving work abroad.”