UK freezes Y-class APD

THE UK government has frozen the
controversial air passenger duty
for economy-class passengers as
part of its autumn budget announced
by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip
Hammond, last month.
The freeze applies to passengers
on short- and long-haul economy-class
flights and has been funded by an
increase in the tax for premium and
private jet travellers.
This means that from April 2019,
business- and first-class flights to the
UK will increase by £16 (R300) per
ticket while economy-class taxes will
remain at the current level.
The UK’s unpopular departure tax,
which is the highest in Europe and
the second-highest globally, has been
dubbed the ‘poll tax’ of the skies.
The tax was initially introduced as
an environmental measure. However,
previous Chancellor, George Osborne,
conceded that it was now considered
a pure revenue raiser. Calls are being
made for the tax to be scrapped
entirely.
In 2014 the tax was scrapped for
children under the age of 12 and then
in March 2016 all children under the
age of 16 travelling in economy class
were also exempted from APD.