… but not quite yet. George Osborn, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom today unveiled his Budget package today. In it was a lovely nugget for those of us who want to go on holiday... or fly for that matter. The Famous Budget Red Box - Image HM Government - www.gov.uk One of the things that puts some people off flying out the United Kingdom is pain know … [Read more...]
Northern Ireland Assembly to scrap Air Passenger Duty on direct long haul flights
Can a government agency live without Air Passenger Duty? It seems one agency can in Northern Ireland - with the elected Northern Irish Assembly at Stormont voting to scrap Air Passenger Duty on Direct Long Haul flights from January 2013. Finance minster Sammy Wilson says: "Direct air links facilitate local firms in doing business with customers outside the region," he … [Read more...]
Tired of the stupid APD charges? Tell your MP via A Fair Tax On Flying…
There's a short but sweet website for those of you who want to let your Member of Parliament (MP) know EXACTLY how you feel about Air Passenger Duty (APD). It's "A Fair Tax On Flying - http://www.afairtaxonflying.org/" and it's simple aim is pile the pressure on MP's to raise the question of APD in the Westminster Chambers and to try and reduce the pain that is APD. Air … [Read more...]
The new APD numbers, now confirmed for 2012/2013.
And the exact response is from the travelling public is "Open your wallets and scream" at yet another attempt by this government to milk the traveller out of every spare coin they have. Here are the Air Passenger Duty figures for that are due to go into effect, from 2011 to 2012, and the new figures that meet the 8% Retail Price Index rise for 2013 APD. BAND A … [Read more...]
The UK Budget and how it will hit you (in traveller terms)
Well the UK Budget has been announced today, and at GhettoIFE towers, it's time for a quick look at what Transport related items have come up... Aviation: Air Passenger Duty is confirmed as up from the 1st April 2012. However buried in the Red book this year is an ominous line: 2.158 Aviation tax: rates – Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates will rise from April 2012, … [Read more...]
Air Asia X throws in the towel on London, Paris, Mumbai and Delhi
Big news today as Air Asia X has decided to cancel a few of their routes. And they're big ones too. Indian Routes: Kuala Lumpur <> Mumbai, CANCELLED from 1st February 2012 Kuala Lumpur <> Delhi, CANCELLED from 23rd March 2012 European Routes: Kuala Lumpur <> Paris Orly, CANCELLED from 31st March 2012 Kuala Lumpur – London Gatwick, … [Read more...]
APD Consultation decends into farce – nothing to change at all. Except more APD.
Yesterday the UK Government posted it's response to the Air Passenger Duty Consultation. And the airlines aren't impressed in the least. The consultation is at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/condoc_responses_air_passenger_duty.pdf for those who want to fall asleep. HM Government has decided to change... nothing. All rises and income streams will go ahead as planned. … [Read more...]
Willie Walsh and APD… launches a new attack.
It seems IAG and British Airways aren't happy with the state of the planned APD increase at all. To the point where they are now accusing the government of costing new jobs. According to British Airways: The planned 800 people that they were planning to recruit has been knocked down to 400 The planned re-introduction of a stored 747-400 has been put on hold for the … [Read more...]
The UK Autumn Budget Statement and How It Will Impact you the traveller
Well as the dust from the UK Autumn budget statement there's a few things to take away from the statement. Air Travel Air Passenger Duty rises CONFIRMED. "Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates will increase from 1 April 2012, as set out at Budget 2011. The Government will also proceed with the extension of APD to flights taken aboard business jets, effective from 1 April … [Read more...]
Airlines band together to fight Air Passenger Duty rises
What do British Airways (IAG), EasyJet, RyanAir and Virgin Atlantic all have in common? It seems they all have a genuine hatred of Air Passenger Duty (APD), and have called for the UK Government and want it scrapped. APD was originally a "Green" Tax, that strangely by the government of the day - not ring-fenced. Since then, further administrations have tried to greenwash … [Read more...]