I would like to see them scrap it like in Holland but that will never happen because it generates too much revenue for the government. Smoke, drink or travel, all of those taxes go on to fixing the problems with the economy that they have made in the first place.

No matter who is running this country, flight taxes will continue to increase.

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It’s a sticky issue. I feel the government go for easy targets such as air travel because it’s seen as a ‘nasty industry’ that serves the rich and pollutes the planet.

It’s a very broad tax – I would have liked to have seen the tax applied to passengers travelling on airlines with older fleets that are less economical (am I sounding like Stelios here?)

The tax is also based on where the destination country’s capital city is, ie a flight from London to New York will rake in the same tax as a flight to LA despite being half the distance. Likewise a flight to LA will attract LESS tax than a flight to Barbados.

Let’s not forget that the government is creaming in more tax from airlines from fuel duty and VAT on fuel.

Just imagine if a similarly ill thought out levy was imposed on, say, pensions?

Andy

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I would echo some of the comments above, my feeling is that the travel industry is a soft touch for the government to raise revenue from. Most of us have out 25 days’ holiday a year and need something to do with it.

My feeling is that this is an opportunity, firstly for us travel industry staff to up our game in terms of sales, customer service and marketing to close the deal with the traveller.

I would also hope it’s an opportunity for some new(er) destinations to come forward and stake their claim, perhaps well developed and frequented by our European cousins but as yet, less well known by the British. In my humble opinion, there are plenty, we just need the flight routings and the knowledge to sell them as well as the support of the tourist boards.

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