Airline passenger news and views

The long battle between airlines and government concerning the Air Passenger Duty (APD) has its latest news with the negative outcome of a report commissioned by EasyJet.

The independent study by consultants Frontier Economics concludes that the proposed increase in APD on short-haul flights from £12 to up to £16 per person, expected to be imposed from next April, would hit the economy and the environment.

As bad as reducing three million a year the number of UK passengers is believed to cause the APD increase, according to Frontier. They say that would mean an estimated  £2.6bn cost to UK Gross Domestic Product annually and 77,000 job losses.

Taxing more aggressively flights up to 2,000 miles will encourage people to travel longer distances, with its negative environmental impact, the budget airline has said. Their numbers imply an increase of CO2 emissions by 360,000 tonnes a year.

EasyJet proposes a per plane tax, instead of a per passenger one which, they claim, would be fairer on passengers and encourage airlines to be greener. Carolyn McCall, chief executive officer of easyJet, said that this measure would "encourage the industry to fly more efficiently." "This independent report shows that the government's proposals on APD would be bad for the environment and the economy," she added.

"APD has already risen by 140% since 2007 on short haul flights. This report provides convincing evidence that the government should not impose further increases in APD on short haul flights and should rethink its policy on aviation taxation."

Air Passenger Duty was introduced by the government in 1994 as a "green tax" at a flat rate of £5 per person, and it has had moderate increases over the last years. The tax is paid as part of the flight or holiday pack cost when departing from the UK by plane.

"Tax Planes Not People" has being mounted by EasyJet to request online petitions to join their campaign against the government proposal, aiming to unify consumers against it. "We believe that every voice counts and that by uniting we can make Downing Street listen," said Tom Parks, a representative from EasyJet.

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