Chamber campaign to cut air travel tax takes off
NEARLY 2,000 people in the West Midlands have joined a Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) campaign to reduce aviation taxation.
All of them have contacted their local MPs asking them to oppose the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is the highest in the world.
The BCCG is part of the A Fair Tax on Flying campaign and has encouraged business people and others outraged by the high levels of aviation taxation to protest in a letter to their local MP.
It argues the tax is damaging the UK by discouraging airlines from flying to UK airports.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of the BCCG, said: “APD will raise more this year for the Treasury than all of the other air passengers taxes in Europe combined. It damages businesses and makes our country less well connected.
“I am pleased that so many people have told their local MPs that the current arrangement is unacceptable. If we are to export our way out of recovery and encourage investment we need well connected regions.
“Tens of thousands of people nationally have signed up to this campaign, probably the largest grass roots campaign ever, but we need more to do so if we are to have our voice hear on Westminster.”
APD’s standard rate is now 7.5 times the average of other countries in Europe which still levy a charge and is now so high that the Treasury will collect more than twice as much in passenger taxes this year (£2.5bn) than the total of all other European countries combined (£1.172bn).
