The Government intends to increase the levy in November, and again in November 2010, which will see departure taxes on long-haul flights from the UK rise by as much as 112 per cent.
The DNCC (Chamber) argues the increase will make airlines think twice before using regional hubs such as East Midlands Airport, and potentially result in passengers having to take more environmentally damaging short flights to European airports to connect with long haul flights.
The tax is likely to raise around £2.9bn next year yet the Emissions Cost Assessment – an estimate of aviation’s cost to environment – puts the 2010 figure at around £1.9bn – meaning an overpayment of almost £1bn.
The petition has been created on the Number 10 web site – to object go to http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/APDIncrease
