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Press Releases - 2009

BAR UK Alerts Olympic Committees of
Prohibitive Airline Tax

 16 October 2009

In a move to highlight the impact on inbound tourism by the massive increases to Air Passenger Duty (APD), BAR UK has written to all 156 National Olympic Committees outside of Europe alerting them to the substantial increase in travel costs and inviting them to express their concerns to their relevant British Embassy or High Commission.  

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing 93 airlines, has become increasingly frustrated with the Governments apparent disregard to the concerns by travel and tourism industry experts over the excessive increases in taxation.

BAR UK is particularly concerned about the impact on inbound tourism and the potential effect on visitor numbers to the London 2012 Olympic Games and beyond. Many of the poorer nations struggle to raise funds to send teams to larger host countries and the planned level of taxation in place by 2012 will act as a considerable barrier to the number of team members and supporters attending theLondon games.

Aviation, travel and tourism is a global industry where imposing substantial taxation on a local level can only create a negative impact on the economic competitiveness of the UK.

BAR UK Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick commented

“The London 2012 Olympic Games are a showcase for the UK and a major opportunity to present to the world our tourism offering and competiveness. It therefore does not make sense that the UK is imposing the highest rates of taxation in the world, with no environmental benefits and in the process damaging the country’s international reputation and a hugely important UK industry.”

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Air Passenger Duty – A Government Tariff Barrier for Air Travellers

26 June 2009

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) calls on the Government to withdraw the proposed changes to Air Passenger Duty (APD).

The proposed changes, due to be implemented in November 2009, and again in November 2010, are a stealth tax on the travelling public which will prove harmful to UK business and act as a tariff barrier against airlines.

BAR UK Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick commented

“It’s about time the government listened and understood the detrimental effects the new APD levels will impose. The new APD regime is effectively a tariff barrier that is purposefully aimed to hit the pockets of the flying public.

Many will just not be able to afford to travel by air. Moreover, this won’t just be UK residents doing business, going on holiday or visiting friends and family. This will also put a great number of visitors off travelling to the UK – especially from afar.

The APD charges will simply make it too expensive to visit the UK compared with other parts of the world. The Government must recognise that in most cases the inbound leisure passenger has a choice of European airport.

BAR UK calls for the Government to withdraw the proposed increases this year and next and we will continue to lobby government on this matter.”

Important factors in BAR UK’s advice to the Government is that the increases will add significantly to the cost of flying, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for many UK residents.

The APD is utterly inconsistent in its application as it imposes disadvantages on some destinations such as the Caribbean having a higher rate of tax than Hawaii. Furthermore long haul visitors are likely to depart through another European country or avoid the UK altogether.

Airlines will have to face an additional financial burden during the most difficult trading period on record and investment in new technologies to reduce carbon emissions could be delayed. No other form of transport, all of which have an environmental impact, have any such taxation placed upon them.

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Airlines Angered by Increases

22 April 2009

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) Ltd, representing over 90 scheduled airlines, is angered and disappointed by the Treasury’s intention to persist with large-scale changes and increases in Air Passenger Duty, that will become effective from November 2009.

BAR UK’s Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick, said

“These proposals, which have already been contested by BAR UK and most other segments of the travel industry, are both excessive and ill-timed.

Current revenues generated by APD charges already exceed the cost of aviation emissions. Increasing APD is simply a revenue generating opportunity imposed on an industry that is facing a major economic crisis. APD is not levied for environmental purposes, merely as a device to generate tax income.

Increasing APD is expected to shrink the market, not just in the number of travellers leaving the UK but also those wishing to visit the UK from overseas and is therefore unlikely to meet its revenue objectives for the Treasury.

BAR UK calls for the Treasury to undertake a review of its aviation taxation policies as a matter of urgency and not to implement the proposed changes in November 2009 and 2010.”

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BAR UK Welcomes Approval of Third Runway at Heathrow

15 January 2009

The government’s approval of a third runway at Heathrow is strongly welcomed by the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK).

This investment in an essential part of the UK’s infrastructure is required as a matter of urgency to relieve the congested conditions that are currently endured by all.

Commenting on the government’s announcement, BAR UK’s Chief Executive, Mike Carrivick, said

‘The lack of runway and terminal capacity at Heathrow has steadily increased congestion and delays.

Aircraft waiting to land are often held in stacking queues leading to wasted time for travellers, and to unnecessary emissions for those areas over which aircraft are held. Departing aircraft are also held in lengthy queues on the ground causing similar damaging effects.

The additional runway will offer much needed capacity and also the resilience to maintain integrity of schedules when operational problems are encountered.

The UK needs and deserves a world-class airport, without which the economy of the entire country, not just the London area, will decline’.

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Notes to Editors

BAR UK represents over 90 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, Government Departments, Regulators and Airport Operators.

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