Air Passenger Duty – What is it?
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax which is charged to passengers flying from the UK. It was introduced in 1994, when the APD cost on a flight to the Caribbean was £10. Since then it has been increased many times, and the economy rate to the Caribbean is currently £75, or £150 in premium economy.
APD was restructured by the Labour government in 2009. They changed it so that the charges were based on a four-tier banding system. These Bands are based on the distance between London and the destination country’s capital city. For the Caribbean the result was that it ended up in a more expensive tax category than the whole of the USA, meaning that tax on a flight to Hawaii or Los Angeles is currently less than to the Caribbean.
Air Passenger Duty from Nov. 2009
| Band & approx Distance in miles from |
In the lowest class of travel (Reduced rate) |
In other than the lowest
class of travel* (Standard rate) |
| |
2009-10 2010-11 |
2009-10 2010-11 |
| Band A (0-2000) |
£11 £12 |
£22 £24 |
| Band B (2001–4000) |
£45 £60 |
£90 £120 |
| Band C (4001–6000) |
£50 £75 |
£100 £150 |
| Band D (over 6000) |
£55 £85 |
£110 £170 |
The Caribbean community has campaigned tirelessly on this issue, resulting in the UK government announcing a consultation on APD in March 2011. This suggested a number of ways that APD could be changed. One of the suggestions was one that the Caribbean had put forward in 2010, which is to change the four band system to a simple two band system. This would mean the only price difference in economy is between short haul flights to Europe and long haul flights. It looks likely that the two band system will be adopted, however this is not certain and so we need to tell our MPs again that this is what we want so that they know how strongly we feel about it.
The government is also consulting on what the rates should be for each band. Anyone from the Caribbean community who has had to buy flights to the Caribbean recently will have noticed the high level of the tax and what it means to ticket prices. We have been campaigning on this but we need your help.
What can you do?
Send a letter or email to your local MP to let them know that you think that the APD rate to the Caribbean is too high and that you want them to raise this issue on your behalf.
When should you do it?
NOW! The government is in the process of deciding what the rates should be and it is likely that a decision will be made by mid September. Get in touch with your MP now and give them the chance to raise this issue for you. If we don’t tell them we think the rates are too high, they will not know they need to do anything about it.
How can you get in touch with your MP?
Some north London MPs are listed below. If your MP is not on the list, there is also a great tool on www.handsoffourholiday.com for contacting your MP. When you contact your MP, be sure to tell them your post code as they will only act on emails and letters if they know they are from their own constituents.
What should you say?
It is important to say that you are concerned about the cost of Air Passenger Duty to the Caribbean and that if it keeps increasing it will prevent essential travel for people who need to visit relatives in the Caribbean. Say that you want all countries to be treated equally and that you think a two band APD system is better than a four band APD system. Ask your MP to raise this issue with the Government and to tell them to reduce APD to the Caribbean. Of course, add anything else that you want to say!