UK: Taxes on long-haul flights to go up despite airlines' pleas for suspension

Taxes on long-haul flights are to rise and remain the highest in Europe despite crisis-hit airlines calling for them to be suspended to help rescue summer holidays. Air passenger duty (APD) rates for departures from Britain will increase by GBP2 to GBP82 for a traveller with an economy ticket, and by GBP5 to GBP181 for those in premium, business and first class. The change, revealed in Treasury documents accompanying Rishi Sunak's Budget, is in line with the RPI measure of inflation. Taxes on short-haul flights to destinations including European holiday hotspots will remain frozen at GBP13 for an economy ticket and GBP26 for those in premium, business or first class. The aviation industry has called for APD to be suspended after air travel was decimated by the pandemic. Karen Dee, the CE of the Airport Operators' Association, described the rise for long haul flights as "a very damaging blow to an industry already on its knees" and "not a budget for Global Britain".<br/>