British Airways' Willie Walsh says, 'drop unjustified rises in flight tax'

Según declaraciones hechas hoy por el Presidente de British Airways, Alistair Darling, ministro de Transporte británico, debería cancelar el aumento de las tasas previsto de hasta 112% en los vuelos desde el Reino Unido.

Speaking on the eve of the Budget, British Airways' CEO Willie Walsh condemned the proposals, which could add GBP280 to the cost of a family holiday to the Caribbean or GBP360 to Australia. He said the rises in Air Passenger Duty would penalise working families, harm economic recovery and put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

Willie Walsh said, "APD was doubled two years ago, making air travel from the UK the most heavily taxed in the world.” Now the government seemed "determined to pile yet more misery" on airlines and passengers.

"The government's own figures show that UK airlines already meet their environmental costs, so there can be no 'green' justification for these additional taxes."

Mr Walsh said the Dutch authorities had recently scrapped a new flights tax because of the way it would conflict with wider efforts to stimulate an economic upturn. Walsh said, "I sincerely hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes the same wise step.”

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 22-Apr-09

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