Increase in flight taxes "does not hold much water", AOA
Release Date: 2009-04-08
The government''s decision to increase the taxes paid on air travel has been criticised by a leading industry group.
ABTA – The Travel Association, which represents travel agents and tour operators, says the amount of money raised in Air Passenger Duty is more than the cost of any environmental damage done by the industry each year.
Sean Tipton, spokesperson for the organisation, says the tax raises around £2 billion each year.
He adds that the government''s decision to increase the duty, in order to offset environmental damage, "does not hold much water".
"The government does not use the amount raised to offset environmental damage, it just goes to the general Treasury''s coffers," the expert states.
Mr Tipton''s comments follow the government''s decision to restructure the Air Passenger Duty bands from November this year.
The new costing will be based on four distance bands, with short-haul flight charges increasing from £11 to £24, while flights over 6,000 miles will rise from £55 to £170.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | AOA |
| Country: | Germany |
| Url: | http://www.aoa.org.uk/media/latest_news_view.asp?NEWS_ID=19113283 |