BATA statement on incidents involving lasers

“The safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority for our member airlines and they take incidents involving lasers very seriously. Incidents are reported to the police to investigate and take appropriate action, as well as to the CAA, the regulator of UK aviation.

“People who buy and use these powerful lasers need to understand that it is a criminal offence to direct or shine a light at any aircraft to dazzle or distract a pilot and such action carries a maximum fine of £2,500. If a person is found to recklessly or negligently endanger an aircraft this can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.”

ENDS

15 February 2016

UK tax on flying cost passengers over £3.1 billion last year

Airlines call for Air Passenger Duty to be abolished after new official figures reveal that the UK’s tax on flying raked in over £3.1 billion in 2015

The British Air Transport Association (BATA) has responded to the publication of official statistics showing the amount of money raised by Air Passenger Duty – the UK’s tax on flying – last year.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s gathering of the UK airline industry at the British Air Transport Association Annual Dinner, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of BATA said:

 “New official figures from HMRC clearly show much how Air Passenger Duty has increased since it was first introduced. This UK tax on flying cost the public over £3.1 billion in 2015 – up from £331 million in 1995 and £892 million in 2005.That is a staggering increase of 250% in the last 10 years and over 840% since the first full year of its operation. Even allowing for growth in passenger numbers over the same period, this is still a huge burden on UK businesses, the travelling public, and UK aviation.”

 The figures, published by HMRC and the Office for National Statistics in the official quarterly APD Bulletin yesterday (26 January), are:

 Nathan continued:

“Despite some recent welcome reforms over the last year or two, such as the return to a two band structure and the abolition of APD for children, the UK flight tax is still the highest in Europe and one of the highest in the world.

 “There is a compelling economic and political case for abolition of APD during this Parliament to improve the UK’s international competitiveness, boost trade, increase productivity, encourage inbound tourism and support the travelling public.”

ENDS

27 January 2016

Notes to Editors

• BATA is the trade body for UK-registered airlines, with members representing all sectors of the industry. In 2014, BATA members employed 75,000 people, operated four-fifths of the UK commercial aircraft fleet and were responsible for some 96% of UK airline output, carrying 138 million passengers and 1 million tonnes of cargo.
• The eleven BATA member airlines are: British Airways, DHL, easyJet, Flybe, Jet2.com, Monarch, RVL Group, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways, Titan Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
• The 2016 BATA Annual Dinner, taking place on Wednesday 27 January, is kindly supported by Boeing UK & Ireland. Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, will be the guest speaker at the dinner.
• The latest APD quarterly bulletin, with monthly figures for 2015 and annual totals for previous years is at:

HMRC/National Statistics, APD Quarterly Bulletin – December 2015, published January 26 2016.

*Full annual totals for APD liable passengers and receipts expected to be slightly down on 2014 totals due to:

 a) Exemption of children aged between 2 and 12 from economy rates of APD with effect from 1 May 2015. This measure was estimated by HM Treasury, when announced in the Autumn Statement 2014, to cost £40m in 2015-16, rising to £80m in 2016-17. The exemption increases to include children under 16 from 1 March 2016.

HM Treasury, Autumn Statement, page 57, paragraph 1.223, Air Passenger Duty

HM Treasury, Autumn Statement, page 64, table 2.1, Autumn Statement Policy Decisions

b) Simplification of APD from a 4 band to a 2 band system with the abolition of bands C and D from 1 April 2015. This change was announced by the Chancellor in the 2014 Budget Statement on 19 March 2014 and was then estimated by HM Treasury to cost £215m in 2015-16, rising to £225 in 2016-17. Band A remained unchanged, covering passengers on flights originating in the UK with a final destination 2000 miles or less from London. The new band B covers passengers with a final destination of more than 2000 miles from London. The new band B was charged at the previously planned band B rate in 2015-16 (£71 for reduced or economy rate passengers and £142 for standard rate passengers).

HM Treasury, Budget 2014, pages 37 and 38, paragraph 1.128, Exports

HM Treasury, Budget 2014, page 57, table 2.1, Budget 2014 Policy Decisions

The combined cost of these two changes to APD, announced in 2014 and implemented in 2015, has been estimated by HM Treasury to total £225m in 2015-16.

**Note that the 2015 APD receipts total is provisional and has been calculated from the January to December 2015 reported monthly totals in the latest Quarterly APD Bulletin.

Former BATA Chairman recognised in New Year’s Honours List

Responding to the news that former Chairman of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), Dr Barry Humphreys, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list, BATA Chief Executive Nathan Stower said:

“I am delighted that Barry’s long and distinguished service to UK aviation in both the private and public sectors, as well as academia, has been recognised in this way. His contribution to the successful partial privatisation of NATS, the expansion of Virgin Atlantic, and the development of BATA, are just some of his most recent accomplishments over a career spanning more than forty years. It is also fitting that his charitable work, including his support for Airlink and The Loomba Foundation, has been recognised, showing that aviation can be a force for good.”

 ENDS

31 December 2015

Thousands avoiding roads and trains by flying home for Christmas

With major engineering works planned on railway lines during the festive period and congestion and delays likely on some of Britain’s major roads, thousands have once again decided to take advantage of competitive fares and faster journey times by flying home for Christmas this year.

Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), said:

“According to figures collated by BATA and provided by the UK’s three largest airlines operating domestic services – British Airways, easyJet and Flybe – more than 335,000 people will be taking a domestic flight in the week before Christmas Day.

 “Many passengers book far in advance to get the very lowest fares, but less than two weeks from Christmas it is still possible to fly home on Christmas Eve for less than the price of a train ticket.

 “Domestic air services fulfil a vital role, linking regions such as the South West with the North East without the need to go through London, or operating ‘over water’ routes connecting the different parts of the British Isles, where there is no practical surface transport alternative.

 “With £13 of Air Passenger Duty charged on a domestic flight (and £26 for a return), passengers travelling in the seven days before Christmas Day will pay around £3 million to the Treasury in this exorbitant flight tax.

“I would also take this opportunity to urge all passengers to check for any potential disruption to road and rail access to airports over the Christmas and New Year period and to allow enough time to get the airport and catch their flight. Rail access to some airports, particularly Gatwick and Heathrow, may be more difficult than usual during this period.”

ENDS

15 December 2015

BATA responds to Government statement on airport expansion in the South East

Responding to the Government statement on airport expansion in the South East, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association, which represents UK registered airlines, said:

“We understand the need for a robust assessment of the Airports Commission’s final report, but it is extremely disappointing that the Government has failed to make a decision today. The UK cannot continue to put off this difficult but vital decision while our international competitors forge ahead.

“The independent Airports Commission spent over two and a half years and up to £20 million looking at the question of expanding aviation capacity in the UK. They produced a detailed and comprehensive final report which reached a clear and unanimous conclusion in favour of Heathrow expansion. The report was supported by a significant volume of expert technical evidence and analysis. Our members do not support expansion at any price, but agree with the principal recommendation that an additional runway at Heathrow offers greater potential economic and social benefits than expansion at Gatwick.

“Airport developments are not funded by taxpayers. Expansion at Heathrow has to be affordable for the travelling public and cargo customers who will end up paying for it. We believe Heathrow’s scheme leaves scope for significant cost reductions.”

ENDS

Thursday 10 December

Airlines call on Chancellor to seize the opportunity presented by devolution of APD to Scotland

The two organisations representing the vast majority of airlines operating to and from the UK have joined forces and written to the Chancellor in advance of next month’s Autumn Statement. They are highlighting the opportunity that the devolution of Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Scotland presents to make the rest of the UK competitive.

The joint letter to the Chancellor from the British Air Transport Association (BATA) and the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) follows the latest official statistics published last week showing that APD has already cost passengers using UK airports over £2.3 billion in the first nine months of 2015.

BATA and BAR UK both raised concerns over the summer about proposals to deal with the impact of devolution of APD to Scotland. Both organisations highlighted significant flaws with the three potential policy options set out in the Treasury Discussion Paper on the issue.

The two trade associations point out that a 50% reduction in Band A and Band B rates of UK APD would be the best way to ensure broad parity with Scotland in the short term. This would support regional growth, whilst not artificially distorting competition or damaging aviation’s contribution to the national economy.  Their objective remains abolition of APD before the end of this Parliament, to deliver the greatest economic benefits and transform the UK’s competitiveness.

Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of BATA, said:

“The Chancellor is right to recognise that devolution including the Scottish Government’s plans to halve APD will have implications for England, but we cannot support the devolution of APD within England. We are particularly concerned that a group of airports are proposing that there should be a higher rate of APD at so-called ‘congested airports’.

 “We believe there is a compelling economic and political case for abolition of APD during this Parliament to improve the UK’s international competitiveness, boost trade, increase productivity, encourage inbound tourism and support the travelling public.”

Commenting on the recent Treasury Discussion Paper about responding to the impact of devolution of APD, Dale Keller, Chief Executive of BAR UK said:

“We believe passengers would find it hard to understand and difficult to accept having to pay more tax to fly than people living in other parts of the country. To put it simply, why should someone living in Bedford, Croydon, or Reading have to pay more tax to visit a potential client, go on holiday, or visit their family and friends, than someone living in Bradford, Chorley or Redcar? 

“Devolution presents the Chancellor with an opportunity to take the lead in addressing the fundamental lack of competitiveness of UK APD.”

ENDS

Friday 30 October

Changes to UK visa regime for Chinese tourists – BATA statement

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement of changes to visitor visas for Chinese tourists, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association, said:

“Making it easier and more convenient for high-spending Chinese visitors to come to the UK could be the dictionary definition of a no-brainer. Today’s announcement is another important step in the right direction and the Prime Minister deserves much credit for recognising the importance of this issue.

“We will continue to encourage the Government to go further to increase the competitiveness of the UK’s visa system in China and other important markets like India, including early implementation of their plans to reduce the cost of a 10 year multiple entry visit visa from to £822 to £85. UK airlines will continue to play their part in attracting these high value tourists to our shores.”

ENDS

21 October 2015

easyJet Chief Executive gives inaugural BATA annual lecture

The inaugural BATA annual lecture took place yesterday afternoon, with Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of easyJet, delivering a speech to an audience of senior industry figures and stakeholders at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of BATA, said:

“Carolyn delivered a fascinating and entertaining lecture about easyJet and the major issues facing our industry. Her support for cross-industry collaboration to provide a strong voice and effective action on the issues that unite us could not have been clearer. BATA will work with all of our members to provide that collective voice – from campaigning on Air Passenger Duty to ensure passengers across England don’t lose out after devolution to Scotland, to finding practical steps to tackle the problem of disruptive passengers.

“We were delighted that SITA and Airbus were able to support the lecture and that so many key aviation figures were able to attend. Following the success of yesterday’s event, work will soon start on preparations for next year’s lecture. This is all part of BATA’s greater focus on external activity, performing a vital role as a positive, confident and vocal organisation representing the UK airline industry.”

ENDS

Carolyn’s speech is available here

15 October 2015

Minsters urged to put APD abolition ‘back on the table’ to respond to devolution to Scotland

The British Air Transport Association (BATA) has today called on the Government to abolish Air Passenger Duty during this Parliament in its response to a Treasury consultation on APD devolution.

The Treasury paper, published on the day of the Summer Budget in July, set out three options for supporting English regional airports from the impacts of Air Passenger Duty devolution to Scotland and potentially Wales.

The three options have been rejected by UK airlines due to their significant flaws, questionable legality and a failure to tackle the fundamental problem of UK APD being the highest tax on flying in Europe and one of the highest in the world.

Commenting on BATA’s submission, Chief Executive, Nathan Stower, said:

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce the burden of APD by 50% from 2018 is great news, but it creates a new inequality for passengers living right across the UK and a competitive challenge for England.

“The Treasury is right to recognise that devolution will require a policy response in England, but the options in their paper are simply inadequate. Passengers living in London and the South East should not have to pay more tax to fly for business or leisure than passengers living in Scotland, Wales or any other region in England for that matter.

“Luckily there is still time to put other options back on the table for consideration, including abolition and significant reductions of UK APD, that would be fairer to passengers across the UK and improve international competitiveness.”

 ENDS

8 September 2015

BATA welcomes Scottish Government’s commitment on Air Passenger Duty

 Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2015-16, British Air Transport Association Chief Executive, Nathan Stower, said:

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce the burden of APD by 50% from 2018, with a view to abolishing completely in due course, is good news for Scottish businesses, families and visitors. Halving the UK’s current rates would bring Scotland broadly in line with Germany’s aviation tax.”

ENDS

1 September 2015