Rise in air passenger duty already affecting holiday plans

The rise in air passenger duty (APD) that came into force at the beginning of November has already affected peoples' holiday plans for next year. Many British travellers have been put off flying due to the rise in air passenger duty.

A survey conducted by World Travel Market revealed that nearly half of all British holidaymakers will adjust their holiday plans for next year. They'll travel less as for many the rise in air passenger duty has made certain destinations unaffordable. One in 10 admitted that they couldn't afford to travel abroad because the air passenger duty is too high.

Air passenger duty on flights to the Caribbean Islands is now particularly high, making the destination unaffordable for certain travellers. Air passenger duty on flights to the Caribbean was already high before the recent rise. Previously it cost £50 per person, but now it's gone up to £75. Some have claimed that there has been a drop in visitor numbers to the Caribbean since the last air passenger duty hike in 2009.

The Government has been considering removing air passenger duty altogether and replacing it with a new scheme - a per plane tax. However, 41% of the holidaymakers that were questioned in the World Travel Market survey said they would cut back on travelling abroad if a per plane tax was introduced.

Air passenger duty was first introduced in 1994, costing £10 per passenger on long-haul flights. By 2007, air passenger duty was restructured and since then, it has continued to rise. Many feel that the rise in air passenger duty is discriminatory and damaging to the travel industry.

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