Government criticised over air tax

NEXT week's rise in the Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax will make family holidays "unaffordable for many", Sir Richard Branson's airline Virgin Atlantic warned today.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2010, 11:51 BST
Updated 29th Oct 2010, 11:51 BST

APD rates increase on Monday, with those taking trips to the Caribbean being particularly badly hit.

Those flying economy class to the Caribbean from next week will each pay 75 in APD – a 50 per cent increase.

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For APD purposes, the Caribbean has been put in band C which means that passengers will be paying more to fly, for example, to Barbados which is only eight-hours away, than to Los Angeles after a 12-hour flight – because the entire USA has been put into band B with slightly lower APD rates.

Virgin said today that a family of four holidaying in Florida from next week would pay 240 in APD.

The firm pointed out that a retired couple visiting grandchildren in Australia, for example, and flying in premium economy class would, from Monday, pay 170 each – the highest APD rate.

Virgin Atlantic's chief commercial officer Julie Southern said: "Our message to Government is that this absolutely has to be the last time that the travelling public faces APD rises."

Related topics:CaribbeanVirgin AtlanticGovernmentRichard BransonBarbadosUSA