Scrap the Tax on Family Flights calls on the Government to scrap the Air Passenger Duty (APD) on children’s tickets (2-11yrs), giving families the break they deserve by helping to make their annual holiday more affordable – and delivering a vital saving, as many household finances continue to be stretched. Currently, children pay the same tax on their tickets as adults, despite there being a well-established principle that children are exempt from taxation, for example VAT on food and clothing.
Currently, families in the UK already the highest air tax in the world, with APD adding £52 to the cost of a family of four’s economy class flights to destinations in Europe and £276 to economy class flights to destinations such as the US. This is a significant cost on families that strive to save for their holiday each year. Only four other European countries levy a similar tax, and UK passengers pay more than all of them.
Even families planning a ‘staycation’ can be hit by this unfair tax if they take a domestic flight. In fact, because APD is a departure tax, if they take a domestic return flight they will be taxed twice. It’s not even just holidays, many constituents have families abroad, and getting their children to see their grandparents, aunts and uncles can be costly. Whether you are flying to Scotland or Singapore, the Government shouldn’t be taxing children to fly. There is already a well-established principle that children are exempt from taxation, for example VAT on food and clothing and this should be no different.
The public can join the campaign by using an online calculator to find out how much extra their holiday costs because of this air tax, and send a postcard to Chancellor George Osborne urging him to scrap the tax on family flights. Go to: www.apdcalculator.com