A campaign to persuade the Chancellor to drop planned hikes in the tax levied on all flights leaving the UK was launched last Monday at airports across the country as a new poll is released showing 3 out of 4 people think that Air Passenger Duty (APD) should not go up in the next Budget. Of those saying APD should not go up 49 per cent said APD should be reduced. Only 6 per cent said APD should be increased.

The Chancellor announced in this year’s Budget that APD will rise by double inflation in 2012.

The ‘Hands off our Holiday’ campaign, backed by the Airport Operators Association (AOA), Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR-UK), and the British Air Transport Association (BATA) is urging people to email their MP via the website www.handsoffourholiday.com and to tweet their support for the hikes to be abandoned using the hashtag #handsoffourhols.

The poll, carried out by Opinium Research for the Hands off our Holiday campaign also shows that nearly 4 out of 5 people were unaware of the plans to further increase the tax by double inflation.

Commenting on the campaign, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA, said: “Our message to the Chancellor is that enough is enough. Air Passenger Duty has already gone up by 325% on long haul flights and 140% on short haul flights in the last five years. Family finances are under great pressure at the moment and most people save hard all year for their holiday. Working families deserve a break.”

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive of BAR-UK, added: “The UK already has the highest rate of flight tax in the world. Why should families be discriminated against for wanting to fly off on a hard-earned break once a year?”

Simon Buck, Chief Executive of BATA said: “The government already takes nearly £3bn in tax from passengers. This is more than the tax on the banking industry. Most people simply aren’t aware how much flight tax they pay. The government should come clean about this stealth tax and drop the hikes planned for next year.”

A planned strike by UK Border Agency staff is likely to affect passengers arriving at some of the UK airports.

The 24-hour strike is scheduled to start this evening, Wednesday 29 June 2011 – start times vary at different airports due to shift patterns.

The Border Agency has issued the following advice to passengers arriving in the UK:

Around 70% of Border Agency staff are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

As the Treasury’s consultation on the reform of Air Passenger Duty (APD) enters its final week – ends on 17 June – ABTA is calling on the government to rethink the levels and structure of the tax which is the highest in the world.

APD is based on distance travelled and at present a family of four flying to Europe will pay £48 in APD, to the USA the tax increases to £240, to Australia the tax increases to £340 – all based on the economy rate – however, the cost of the tax is set to rise again next April by twice the cost of inflation.

Only five European countries impose some form of aviation tax with the UK’s level higher than anywhere else in the world. Denmark, Norway, Malta and Holland have all scrapped similar taxes as the revenue raised was outweighed by the damage caused to their economies. Ireland has pledged to follow suit shortly.

ABTA is part of the Fair Tax on Flying www.facebook.com/afairtaxonflying alliance that has united the travel industry to raise awareness of the high levels and illogical structure of APD, which is damaging UK travel and tourism and adding an additional tax burden to holidaymakers and business travellers at a time when fuel prices are reaching record levels.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “It is vital that the Government understands the damaging impact that APD is having on the tourism industry in the UK. We already pay the highest levels of aviation tax in the world, and if the Government goes ahead with its double-inflationary increase and levies an ETS tax on top of this in 2012, we will see another eye-watering increase in the tax burden on the industry and on holidaymakers and business travellers flying in and out of the UK. The industry is willing to pay its way, but this clearly puts us at a competitive disadvantage when compared with our European neighbours and punishes the travelling public unfairly.”

ABTA encourages all of its Members and any others who feel strongly to make their own submissions to the treasury at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.htm

Related stories:

Manchester Airport launches ‘give us a break’ APD campaign

UK Airport Consultative Committee: APD and European Emissions’ Trading Scheme = double taxation

Double taxation on flights from 2012

JLA urges chancellor to rule out double taxation

APD could threaten Scottish flights

Wizz Air celebrated its 7th anniversary on 19 May 2011.

The airline’s first flight took to the skies on 19 May 2004 from Katowice in Southern Poland. Since then, the airline has gone on to become the largest airline in Central and Eastern Europe operating from 15 bases, in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Lithuania.

Wizz Air has carried more than 10 million passengers in the past 12 months – up by more than 22% compared with the previous 12 months.

The airline has one of the youngest fleets in the world, consisting of 35 Airbus A320s with a further 104 aircraft on order, which will deliver the airline’s growth plans for many years to come.

Wizz Air offers flights from Glasgow Prestwick, Doncaster/Sheffield, Liverpool, Luton and Cork airports.

A recent survey of 154 MPs has shown that more than two thirds did not know about the double taxation that airport passengers are facing in 2012.

The survey, conducted by ComRes and Airport Operators Association (AOA), found that majority of the MPs were unfamiliar with the UK aviation industry’s planned entry into the EU Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) in 2012. This additional tax, coupled with a substantial increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) next year, will mean that air passengers face double taxation on flights.

Of those MPs who did know about the additional tax caused by the introduction of the EU ETS, 63% believe that APD should be reduced or abolished.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “The ComRes / AOA survey shows that the majority of MPs do not know that air passengers will face onerous double taxation on flights from 2012. It is shocking that our policy-makers are unaware that holidaymakers and business people will be paying a new cost on flying – the EU Emissions Trading Scheme – as well as even more APD, already the highest in the world.

“Of those MPs who do actually know what is going on, more than 60% support the reduction or scrapping of APD to encourage economic growth by ensuring that passengers do not face a further tax rise in what are already tough economic times for everybody.”

Andrew Hawkins, Chairman of ComRes added: “Fuel duty in one form or another has long proved a toxic issue politically and the impact of the ETS should not be ignored by politicians. It is notable that of MPs who are aware of it, the majority view is to ameliorate its impact by varying Air Passenger Duty. The ETS issue has all the hallmarks of a powerfully dangerous political mix.”

A new airline is set to trial a new service between Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Amsterdam.

Using a Jetstream 32, 19-seat aircraft, HiAir will launch their new flights on 5 September 2011, aiming to deliver a business class service with an economy price tag.

Ben King, co-director of HiAir Ltd said: “We bring fresh ideas and energy to the industry and seek to awaken the glamour previously associated with aviation through our ambition to deliver outstanding levels of customer service. Such personal service can only be achieved by utilising rich local airports such as Robin Hood which provides a blissful foundation for us to trial our niche concept. “

HiAir will also be offering a concierge programme and executive travel options both to and from the airport for professionals with chauffeured cars and helicopter transfers.

A group of Doncaster Airport workers is about to set off on a fundraising trek for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service.

Tim Webb, an airfield operations officer, and his fourteen-strong team from Doncaster’s Robin Hood Airport will walk 33 miles from Filey to Whitby Pier over two days on May 6 to raise vital funds for Ambulance Service.

And after visits to Scarborough, Boggle Hole, Robin Hood’s Bay and a camp over in Cloughton.

Tim, who has helped look after the runway at the airport since it opened in 2005, said: “It’s so important to support charities in our region and we’re thoroughly looking forward to what will be a fantastic walk – and especially to the huge portion of fish and chips which will await us!

“Doing fundraisers every year is really important to me – from skydives to bungee jumps. I decided to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service after watching a TV programme focused on the charity and when a friend fell off her horse a few weeks ago and was airlifted to safety by them.

“What will be different about this event is that so many staff from the airport who might not spend time together usually will be able to bond, benefit from an exercise boost and have fun!”

Employees from Security, Servisair ground aviation services and administration departments at the airport hope to raise as much as possible for the cause and have teamed up with five staff from South Yorkshire Police who will also take part.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is one of the airport’s chosen charities and needs to raise £7,200 per day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained.

To sponsor the team visit www.justgiving.com and search for Tim Webb.

One of Britain’s most iconic former combat planes is spending the summer in Doncaster.

The last flying Vulcan, XH558, will be on show for the public from a viewing gallery at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield every day between the 22nd April (Good Friday) and the 2nd May (11am – 4pm).

From the viewing gallery, visitors will be able to see the Vulcan XH558 parked up outside, take photographs, try the flight simulator and visit the shop for lots of Vulcan memorabilia – with volunteers on hand to answer questions about the stunning craft.

It will be free to view the plane between 22nd April and 2nd May, with the only fee coming in the form of parking. However, if guests make a purchase from Wetherspoons in the main terminal building, a discounted car parking ticket of £3 will be offered and this will cover the parking for the five hours the plane can be viewed – a saving of up to £7.

For the viewing gallery, visitors are asked to enter the main terminal building and follow the clearly marked out signs.

Passengers can now enjoy cheap flights from Robin Hood Airport to Tenerife by Ryanair.

The airline currently flys to Alicante from Robin Hood, which operates again from March along with a new service flying out of Robin Hood to Faro.

The new routes are part of the airline’s announcement that it plans to triple the number of seats it offers, around 90,000, from the airport.

To book Robin Hood airport parking and Robin Hood airport hotels click on the links.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, is conduction a two-week online survey on the travelling public’s experiences during the disruption caused to flights in November and December 2010.

The survey aims to help the CAA gain a better understanding of passengers’ views about how airports, airlines and other companies operating at UK airports, met, or failed to meet, their expectations. For instance, the CAA is interested in finding out how well passengers were kept informed about the disruption and whether people were told about their rights to assistance from airlines.

The survey can be accessed here: www.caa.co.uk/snowsurvey

The CAA is keen to hear from as many people who experienced disruption as possible to try and build the best possible picture of what worked well and what did not, so we can work with industry to improve the situation in case of future disruptions.

The CAA is also acting as an independent observer on the enquiry panel put in place by BAA to review Heathrow’s performance and establish the lessons to be learned following December’s severe weather.