Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has welcomed the change in Air Passenger Duty announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in today’s Budget – but is calling for the change to be implemented sooner than April 2023. Commenting on the move, Loganair’s chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said:
“We’re heartened that the Chancellor has clearly recognised the strategic importance of UK regional air services by reducing APD, and this move is also a vote of confidence in the industry’s extensive efforts to de-carbonise. It never made sense for domestic return flights – including to many outlying parts of the UK – to be taxed at double the rate of return flights to Europe.
“However, having recognised that, this measure could and should be implemented by April 2022 at the very latest, if the full benefit for the UK economy through restoring connectivity after the pandemic is to be realised. Why wait?”