Air Passenger Duty is a tax on airlines levied by the government to counteract the environmental costs of flying. It was originally doubled in February 2007 and is set to increase twice more.

The government's move to increase APD will see departure taxes on long-haul flights rise by as much as 112 per cent next year.

The new figures were issued by the Department for Transport in an answer to a Parliamentary Question on June 23 and Air Passenger Duty is set to rise in November this year before stepper rises in November 2010.

APD falls into four bands and what passengers will be charged will depend on how far they fly. Increases will hit medium- and long-haul travellers hardest

In November travellers to the US will pay £45 in APD, those going to the Caribbean will pay £50 and passengers going to Australia and New Zealand will have to pay £55
 
In November 2010 passengers flying to the US will pay £60 in tax (a 50 per cent increase), while those flying to the Caribbean will pay £75 (an increase of 87.5 per cent). Travellers to Australia or New Zealand will pay £85 in tax (an increase of 112.5 per cent), meaning a family of four flying Down Under face a tax bill of £340. 

The duty on short-haul flights (under 2000 miles) will rise by just £2 over the next 18 months.

Popular budget summer-holiday destinations, such as Egypt, which lies just beyond the 2000 mile limit (calculated as the distance between London and the destination’s capital city) will attract an extra £240 in APD for a family of 4 adding another £80 to the total bill.

Many in the travel industry have criticised the Government for applying tax rises during a time of financial downturn and falling passenger numbers.

The Government claims that the move will cut carbon emissions, environmentalists have criticised the tax for encouraging air passengers to believe that they are doing their bit for the environment, making them less likely to contribute to carbon offsetting schemes.

“APD was doubled two years ago, making air travel from the UK the most heavily taxed in the world,” said Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways. “The Government’s own figures show that British airlines already meet their environmental costs, so there can be no ‘green’ justification for these additional taxes.”

Airlines also complain that the APD increase will unfairly target premium economy passengers, all of who will pay the same level of tax as passengers flying in business- or first-class. For example, those flying in premium economy cabins to Australia will pay £170 from November 2010 – more than double the current fee of £80.

The changes are also likely to have an impact on tourism to Britain, with foreign visitors forced to pay APD on the return leg of their journey.

What passengers will have to pay in Air Passenger Duty:

Band A (0 - 2000 miles from London)
Includes: Europe, Algeria, Greenland, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia 

Band B (2001-4000 miles from London)
Includes:Bermuda, Canada, Egypt, Gambia, Jordan, Oman, Russia (east of Urals), Syria, UAE, US

Band C (4001-6000 miles)
Includes: Botswana, Brazil, Caribbean, China, India, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Band D (more than 6000 miles)
Includes: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore

29 June 2009