Budget missed chance to take action on APD

FOLLOWING a Budget announcement in March that was dominated by measures to tackle the economic impact of coronavirus, industry bodies criticised the government’s decision to proceed with rises in Air Passenger Duty.

“Despite announcing an APD review in January in time for this Budget, the Chancellor has instead pushed a response back to Spring while discreetly publishing a further £2 increase to £82 on economy long-haul flights from April

2021,” says Dale Keller, Chief Executive of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR UK). He said airlines had asked for a temporary six-month waiver of APD as a supporting measure while they deal with an “unprecedented situation”.

The BTA said it “welcomes the plan to consult on aviation tax, but the time for action to reduce the burden of APD is now”.