Air Passenger Duty (APD) on all long haul flights from the UK is to be standardised from April 1st, 2015.
Speaking in the House of Commons during Budget 2014 on March 19 the Chancellor George Osborne said:
From next year, all long haul flights will carry the same lower band B tax rate that you now pay to fly to the United States.
This will eliminate the two highest rates of APD charged on flights to countries over 4,000 miles from Britain, cutting tax for millions of passengers travelling to China, India, Brazil and many other emerging markets.
This will mean that flights to South Asia and the Caribbean will pay tax at the lower band B rate.
The Chancellor was responding to lengthy campainging by associations such as the Fair Tax on Flying Campaign, saying that the government will reform air passenger duty (APD) by abolishing bands C and D from 01 April 2015.
The Government has accepted research that illustrates the long term negative implications to Britain, in trying to compete on a world stage when hindered by taxation.
Cherrie Osborne, Director of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority UK says:
For Antigua and Barbuda, an island that is heavily dependent on tourism, today’s announcement of APD reform is a great accomplishment for us and Caribbean travel.
Antigua and Barbuda along with many other supporters have been lobbying against the unfair banding for several years. A reduction in the cost of airfare and economic recovery means we can we can look ahead to some positive growth within in the region.
The average family of four may pay anything between £52 and £376 each time they fly from Britain thanks to APD.