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The UK Government is one of only two governments to tax air passengers in this way and these rises will hit families particularly hard as they struggle with the impact of the recession.

Other destinations popular with families will be even harder hit with  Caribbean destinations seeing the same family of four having their bill increase to £200 from this Sunday and £300 a year later. The Caribbean is disproportionately affected with tax rates higher than flights to the USA, highlighting the illogicality of the tax which is meant to be based on the distance travelled.

For those paying out for a little extra leg room in premium economy these tax increases will be double, taking this service, introduced to allow a bit more comfort at an affordable price, out of the range of many travellers. Airlines may consider removing the service altogether if the Government insists on taxing it as highly as business and first class tickets.

Inbound tourism will also be damaged as foreign visitors are put off from travelling to the UK. Regional airports will suffer as airlines consider the profitability of maintaining routes with an increased tax burden at a time of declining passenger numbers.

These steep APD rises will have a disproportionate effect on some of the poorest countries in the world whose economies are heavily reliant on tourism as long haul travel bears the most savage increases.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “These APD rises will put pressure on jobs and damage local economies reliant on tourist expenditure both here and abroad when we are already suffering from the impact of the recession. They will place an even greater financial burden on families and others on tight budgets as they book their holidays or visits to friends and family. They will undo a lot of the good work being done by the industry to keep prices at an affordable level.”

29 October 2009

For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Communications Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712 325,
Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 07545 927 411
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com


Notes to Editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,351 members with 5,700 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators. 

ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements. 

In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.

As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation, also provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers at the highest levels.  In the UK, these include, government ministers, constituency MPs, Select Committee members, senior civil servants and members of the political opposition parties in both Westminster and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

In Europe, ABTA is forming close ties with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and staff within the Director Generals’ Secretariats. ABTA works in partnership with ECTAA (the European grouping of travel agents and tour operators’ associations) to lobby on interests relevant to its Members.