Blackpool Airport & Jet2.com back ‘Fair Tax on Flying’ Campaign

Blackpool Airport and Jet2.com have pledged their support to ABTA’s ‘Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign after it was revealed that British people can pay up to 12 times more than anyone else in Europe.

They have joined forces to lobby local MP’s and central government in a bid for a fairer deal for their passengers from across Lancashire and the Lake District.

On flights within Europe, UK passengers pay twelve times as much in aviation tax as their French counterparts and for those travelling further afield, a family of four travelling from the UK to Australia pays £340 in flight tax, compared to just £15 if they left from France, or £11 from Ireland.

More than 25 other leading names in the travel industry have joined the crusade to stop the government raising aviation tax, which is threatening the industry as a whole.

ABTA has revealed that Air Passenger Duty has increased between 140 and 325 per cent since 2007. Belgium, Holland and Denmark are just three examples of airports that have seen their Governments abandon aviation taxes due to the negative effects on their economies.

Paul Rankin, Airport Director at Blackpool Airport said: “It is hugely important that as many people as possible get behind this campaign.

“Airports are playing a full part in making the industry more sustainable, through reducing emissions from aircraft on the ground, working with air traffic controllers to optimize flight conditions and making better use of energy. We also support the introduction of the European Emissions Trading Scheme in 2012, which will set a real limit on airline emissions.

“Analysis shows that, in the longer term, the UK economy will forego £750million of wealth and 18,000 jobs due to rises in APD, with around half the extra revenue raised offset by tax revenue losses in the wider economy.

“British airports contribute £18billion to our economy and support 250,000 jobs.

“To play our part in the economic recovery, we need a fair tax framework. Through the ‘Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign, we are urging the Chancellor to introduce a fair aviation tax stabiliser, which offsets European Emissions Trading Scheme revenue with commensurate reductions in domestic aviation tax.”

Ian Doubtfire, Managing Director of Jet2.com said, “We offer our customer’s great value leisure flights to city, sun and ski destinations and want to make it possible for people to be able to travel from their local airport at a price they can afford.

“The taxes imposed on UK flyers, the highest in Europe, discourage people and are unfair, and they are set to rise with nothing for people to show for the high tax they have paid. This burden on customers will increase with the introduction of the EU emissions trading scheme in 2012. Jet2.com calls for the UK Government to ensure that APD is reduced with the introduction of emissions trading and not just used as an extra means of generating tax from hard pressed consumers".

The ‘Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign is supported by an alliance of over 25 airlines, airports, tour operators, destinations and travel trade associations calling on the Government to make UK aviation tax fairer. 

Photo Details

(Left to right) Paul Rankin, Blackpool's Airport Director, with Jet2.com cabin crew Rachael Atkinson-Eve, Carla Rainford and Michelle Baguley 

Notes to Editors

• Blackpool Airport is 95% owned by Balfour Beatty through Regional & City Airports (Blackpool) Ltd, with the remaining 5% owned by Blackpool Borough Council. RCA acquired their interest in the airport on 8th May 2008

• Blackpool Airport’s airlines include: Aer Lingus, Jet2.com and Manx2.com flying scheduled routes to Alicante, Belfast, Dublin, Faro, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malaga, Murcia, Palma and Tenerife

• Blackpool Airport took top spot in a Which?Holiday passenger survey.

For further information on Blackpool Airport please call Susan Kendrick, Corporate Affairs Manager, Blackpool Airport on 01253 472560 or email suekendrick@blackpoolairport.com.

For further information on Jet2.com please contact the Jet2.com Press Office Tel: 0113 2431355 or email pressoffice@jet2.com

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