Tories to reform APD

The UK Conservative Party today (April 13) promised to reform the Air Passenger Duty (APDAir Passenger Duty (UK only): An excise duty charged on the carriage of passengers flying on an aircraft with an authorised take off weight of more than ten tonnes or more than twenty seats. Due when the aircraft first takes off on the passenger’s flight and is payable by the aircraft operator.) in its election manifesto.

But it did not say how.

Its full statement on the controversial tax read that it would "Reform Air Passenger Duty to encourage a switch to fuller and cleaner planes." 

The manifesto also re-iterated the Conservative policy to scrap plans for a third runway at London Heathrow Airport and second runways at Stansted and Gatwick Airports.

The Tories also said they would begin work "immediately" on a high speed rail line connecting London to Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds with the actual construction starting in 2015.

In the second stage of its high speed rail plans, the Party said it would deliver lines connecting north east England, Scotland and Wales into the network.

The Conservative pledge was welcomed by easyJet which has campaigned against the tax in recent years.

Its ceo Andy Harrison said: "We welcome the Conservatives' promise to reform the UK's daft air tax.

"A tax that forces families to subsidise private jets, cargo planes and 20 million foreign transfer passengers per year is way past its sell-by date.

"From an environmental perspective APD gives a perverse incentive - full planes pay the highest tax whilst empty ones pay no tax at all.  We need to make air tax greener and fairer now.

"It should be reformed from a poll tax into a flight tax that taxes emissions, not families."

The current UK Labour government plans to raise APD, which was first introduced by the Conservatives in the 1990s, later this year after also increasing it in 2009.

APD Rates on flights in the EU are due to rise from £11 to £12 in November this year and on flights of more than 4,000 miles from £45 to £60.

Flights to the Caribbean are due to see a rise from £50 to £75 and on longer flights to Asia from £60 to £85.

www.conservatives.com   www.easyjet.com