Air passenger tax reforms mean cheaper long-haul flights

Flyers will get cheaper long-haul flights with new passenger duty levies.

Tax reforms mean that many long-haul passengers will pay less in Air Passenger Duty (ADP) from April 1st.

However, those flying distances of between 2,000 and 4,000 miles (to destinations like Canada, for example) will pay more.

What is happening

Bands C and D, the two more expensive bands of Air Passenger Duty, are being abolished, with all destinations of over 6,000 miles put into Band B.

Band B will this year cost £71, so destinations that were previously classed as Band C will now cost £14 less, while former Band D destinations are now £26 cheaper.

However, as Band B cost £69 last year, there is a small increase for those destinations which have not changed class.

The move, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in last year’s Budget, aims to boost trade with countries such as China and Brazil.

Under the new rules, a family of four flying to India or the Caribbean in economy class would save £56 in taxes.

Here’s how Air Passenger Duty looked before 1st April.

Source: gov.uk

*For travel in an aircraft of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers

And here's how it looks now.

Source: gov.uk

*For travel in an aircraft of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers

Further changes will come into effect on 1st May, with children under 12 no longer paying duty in economy class. Those under 16 will be exempt from March 2016.

In addition, passengers on direct long-haul flights whose journey begins in Northern Ireland are also exempt from APD.

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