A cut in air taxes is urgently required to safeguard growth post-Brexit, as declared by two major airlines today.
Emirates and American Airlines has joined Heathrow Airport in warning that British business travellers are being charged much more than continental neighbours. A Fair Tax on Flying, a campaign group said cutting Air Passenger Duty by half is likely to boost UK earnings by nearly £5 billion in the first year, increasing to £20 billion within the year 2022.
The managing director of American Airlines Rhett Workman at Heathrow said that post-Brexit, Britain needs to remain open for businessmen.
And, the president of Emirates named Tim Clark said that the UK aviation taxes are among the highest in the world. Cutting them would largely benefit consumers, stimulating corporate and leisure travel and sending strong signals that the UK is really serious about building stronger global air and trade links, especially in the post-Brexit world.
APD had been introduced by Gordon Brown in 1994 as a charge on vacationers and other tourists. It ranges from £13 for short-haul economy flights to £75 for long-haul business class travellers.
Heathrow has argued that a cut would permit opening more routes for post-Brexit trade.
It went on to add that the UK had paid £225 million more in terms of taxes on domestic flights alone as compared to counterparts in the other European nations.
The calls had arrived ahead of the budget on 22nd November
