Air Passenger Duty changes
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a departure tax levied on most air travel. Each geographical band has two rates of Air Passenger Duty, one for standard class and the second for ‘other’ higher classes of travel (usually premium economy / business / first class).
The band A (short-haul) rate ranges from £13 for a standard class journey and £26 for an ‘other’ class of travel remain unchanged from 1 April 2019. The Band B (long-haul) rates for journeys over 2,000 miles range from £78 to £172 a small increase over the 2018-19 rates.
Passengers using certain classes of private jets face even higher charges. The short-haul band remains frozen at £78 but the long-haul rates have increased to £515 (from £468).
Children under 16 are exempt from APD when travelling in standard economy class. There are also exemptions from APD for flights from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands as well as an exemption for direct long-haul flights departing from Northern Ireland.
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a departure tax levied on most air travel. The number of APD bands will be reduced from four to two for travel on or after 1 April 2015. This measure will lower the costs of travelling to many countries including Australia, China, India and Brazil.
Each geographical band has two rates of Air Passenger Duty, one for standard class and the second for ‘other’ higher classes of travel (usually business / first class). For 2015/16, band A ranges from £13 for a standard class journey and £26 for an ‘other’ class of travel. Band B for journeys over 2,000 miles ranges from £71 to £142.
There are exemptions from APD for flights from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands as well as an exemption for direct long haul flights departing from Northern Ireland. Passengers using certain classes of private jets will face higher charges from April 2015.
In December 2014 it was also announced that APD has been abolished for children aged 2 or over, but under 12, for flights departing from UK airports from 1 May 2015.