UK: Passenger tax to rise yet again

The UK government is to increase Air Passenger Duty (APD) – an airline ticket tax – on premium tickets from April 2019. APD is already the world’s highest tax of this nature. Currently, rates for economy-class passengers are GBP13 for short-haul flights (within 2,000 miles of London) and GBP75 for long-haul (more than 2,000 miles). Business-class passengers pay GBP26 and GBP150 for short- and long-haul journeys respectively. Charges levied on executive jet passengers are even higher, at GBP78 for short-haul and GBP450 for long-haul. These rates are already scheduled to rise in April 2018, as a result of a tax increase announced in 2016. APD on short-haul economy-class flights will remain at GBP13, but that for long-haul will rise to GBP78. Business-class passengers will pay GBP26 and GBP156 for short-haul and long-haul respectively. <br/>