Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
23 March 2011 09:53
British Airways is part of a group campaigning against rises in airport departure tax
Airlines and holiday companies have united in a bid to urge the Government against raising airport departure tax.
Travel organisation Abta is leading the campaign - which is also backed by British Airways and airport operator BAA.
The group has written to Chancellor George Osborne ahead of this month's Budget and launched a Facebook campaign to allow people to offer their support.
Many of those who choose to back the campaign may well be paying off holidays for this year and arranging travel insurance for their trip.
Campaigners say air passenger duty (APD) has risen 26-fold since 1994 and it was increased again last autumn, with those flying to the Caribbean in particular facing steep increases.
Abta has announced the results of a survey of 2,046 adults which showed that 63% believed APD levels were too high, with 21% saying they were about right and only 5% reckoning they were too low.
The organisations say that UK air travellers pay by far the highest levels of flight tax in Europe, with a family of four flying from the UK to Florida paying £240 in APD, while if they fly to Australia they can expect to pay £340.
That compares with £11 for an Irish family flying to the same destinations or £15 for a French family.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "The Prime Minister has identified tourism as one of the top five industries to drive growth, yet aviation tax has become a punitive stealth tax."
04 November 2019
Escape the UK's shorter autumn days and head to the Southern Hemisphere for sun and sporting fun.
[more...]
21 October 2019
Struggling for holiday inspiration? Let us inspire you with our list of book-themed breaks.
Check out our top recommendations to make the most of your time in Frankfurt, on the River Maine.
30 October 2019
What quirky customs await you on your travels this Halloween?
Look past the petrifying and discover a side to the Romanian region you never knew...
14 October 2019
Bucharest is the jewel of the Balkans crown - explore the city to find a host of hidden gems.
At the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe lies a country with a story to tell. Check out these must-see sites in Croatia to learn more.
07 October 2019
With Halloween on the horizon we look for destinations across the globe with a decidedly mysterious appeal...
What should you eat in Croatia? Good question. Unrumble that tummy with our rundown of our favourite Croat cuisine.
Where's the best beach in Croatia? We answer that question and more as we look at the Adriatic beaches you won't want to miss out on...
02 October 2019
Enjoy National Pizza Month and grab a slice of history with the true story of everyone's favourite Italian flat-bread...
Autumn is here. And while the weather outside starts to turn, you may be asking where to find October sun? Here are some of our top short-haul destinations...