UK per-plane tax lambasted by industry

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) claims that the failure of the Coalition Government to rule out the proposed per-plane tax (PPT) in the country’s budget shows that they do not have an effective plan for the industry and that the planned tax will fail its environmental and economic objectives and drive trade and tourism to competing countries. “A per-plane tax would place an excessive burden on the UK’s vital aviation industry and is completely out of touch with the country’s urgent need of visionary policies that meet business and environmental objectives in the decades to come. PPT is not a new idea; the budget announcement completely disregards the industry consultation responses to similar proposals made by the last government. Huge market distortions will be created, emissions would increase and Treasury’s own revenues would decrease, so failing Government’s two key objectives with this tax,” said Mike Carrivick, chief executive of BAR UK. “The combined effects of aviation tax policies and the ban on any new runways in South East England will be so great that travellers will be encouraged to by-pass the UK and give their business to the fast-developing hubs elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East, resulting in more connecting flights and additional emissions.”