- APD is set to increase by £700m by 2011 increasing the overall tax take by 30% to over £2.52bn.
- Such tax hikes will further harm the UK airline industry in what is already very challenging times.
- APD fails to incentivise alternative modes of transport for short-haul journeys and penalises long-haul flights, despite there being no viable alternative mode of travel for passengers.
- Virgin Atlantic's passenger contribution to APD will increase by 17.5% in 2009/10 and a massive 65% in 2010/11.
- The Government's new banding system is discriminatory against Caribbean countries, which are heavily reliant on the tourism industry.
- Premium Economy passengers will have to pay the same level of APD as Upper Class passengers despite their fares being much lower.
- APD should be withdrawn as soon as aviation becomes part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2012.