Cut the tax on flying George

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I received an e-mail from Leeds Bradford Airport today regarding the consultation on proposed increases in Air Passenger Duty (APD):

LBA is warning that passengers still face the prospect of ‘double taxation’ and further increases in flying taxes when aviation enters the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2012; and also that the Chancellor may raise APD next year.

APD in the UK is already up to 8.5 times more than the European average. Many European countries have either already abandoned their aviation taxes, or indicated that they will do so, due to the negative effects on their economies, including: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Ireland and Malta.

Even with the freeze, the UK economy is already losing £750m in GDP and 18,000 jobs as a direct result of the recent November 2010 rises in APD, not to mention the thousands of UK tourism jobs lost because less people can afford to holiday here. 

You can submit your comments and join me in urging George to cut the tax on flying - send your response to apd@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 17 June 2011.

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