Flybe, a UK-based airline company, has gained support from British passengers in its battle with the UK government over Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax.
The government will charge APD to travellers flying out of the UK in aircraft that have an authorised take-off weight of more than ten tonnes, or more than twenty seats for passengers. The passengers have to pay the tax twice when they undertake a return journey, which adds around £26 to a return fare.
The airline has reported that thousands of passengers have supported its Fair Tax on Flying campaign, being held in a collaboration with 30 airlines, airports and tour operators.
Niall Duffy, the airline head of public relations and public affairs, said, ‘We would like to thank the thousands of our passengers who have supported the Fair Deal on Tax campaign to date. Air Passenger Duty is a barrier to economic growth.
Flybe supports any reform of APD that deals with the inherent unfairness that means UK domestic passengers pay the tax on both legs of their journey, while those flying abroad pay just once because APD is a departure tax from a UK airport. So, for example, a return passenger travelling between Exeter and Manchester (188 miles) pays double the tax that someone flying between Glasgow and Dalaman in Eastern Turkey does (4,086 miles). That is not just inequitable – it is scandalous.
Flybe still believes that this ‘double hit’ must be addressed in order to safeguard UK domestic aviation and UK regional economic competitiveness.’
