MSE News: British Airways boss wants air passenger duty axed

Because taxation should be set according to what is best for the economy rather than to benefit certain sections of the population?

Azari wrote: »

Why should people be able to increase their carbon footprint by flying tax free when OAP's have to pay tax on the fuel they need to stay warm and keep living?

Yes, great idea. Let's discourage foreign tourists from coming to the UK by increasing tax on air fares, so they give less of their money to UK businesses and the UK taxman. Then there'll be less public money to support those OAPs. You thought this out really well, didn't you?

This is an ill conceived tax established purely for revenue raising purposes but dressed up as being 'green' as a means of justifying its existance.

Other countries have seen the error of their ways and have either reduced it to minimal levels or scrapped it entirely.

Aside from the damage it causes to our tourist industry by discouraging visitors it has also affected the economies of the Caribbean islands who benefit from the tourism when UK residents visit them. These are poor economies, many of them with strong British connections but we impose a tax on flights to that area which is considerably higher than for someone flying as far as Hawaii. Where is the sense in that, but then again, when did politicians use common sense?

The Daily Telegraph is currently running a campaign to have this tax made fairer. Details below -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/air-passenger-duty/

Azari wrote: »

This duty should stay.

The airlines pay no duty on the fuel used.

Why should people be able to increase their carbon footprint by flying tax free when OAP's have to pay tax on the fuel they need to stay warm and keep living?

Based on that argument, when do I get my non means tested winter fuel allowance to help with the cost of travel?

Froggitt wrote: »

Theres no green argument in this tax, as people are flying from other EU airports to avoid the tax......plus the carbon involved in getting to that airport.

Some people are. Many (indeed probably most) don't.

And of course he wants APD scrapped - BA would get more money then... Asking the people who have to pay a tax whether they like paying it or not is ALWAYS going to result in "no" - no matter how valid a tax it may (or may not) be.

If it's such a big deal for BA, and so many people are flying to other EU airports to avoid it, why doesn't BA just start flying from them? Particularly now they have merged with Iberia - expand some hubs in Spanish airports.