Britain deserves a break – call to scrap tax on family flights

A campaign to scrap the tax on children’s flights launches today (24th November), as polling reveals that that the majority of the public think that it is time the Government make children under 12 exempt from Air Passenger Duty (APD)– and help support families in taking valuable holidays together.

Labour proposals for a new charge on overseas visitors

Responding to the news that a Labour Government would introduce a new charge on visitors from countries that are not required to obtain a visa to enter the UK in order to fund 1,000 additional Border Force staff, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of BATA, said:

“While we welcome the desire to improve the customer experience for passengers arriving at the UK border, airlines have significant concerns about this proposal.”

BATA responds to Airports Commission

“The Airports Commission’s final recommendation must be cost effective, offer value for money, and not rely on today’s passengers paying for infrastructure that won’t be ready until at least the mid-2020s. UK airlines will study the appraisal of each option in detail to judge whether the plan is supported by a robust business case with realistic forecasts and a credible funding mechanism. I hope our politicians will wait for the results of this consultation and the Commission’s final report so that political decisions can be taken with the fullest evidence.”

BATA responds to Supreme Court air passenger compensation decision

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is both surprising and disappointing. UK airlines support the principle of passenger protection and always meet their legal obligations. However, the rules should be clear, affordable and proportionate for the sake of passengers and airlines. The current system fails those tests and this decision will further increase costs which ultimately are borne by all passengers.

Air passengers taxed over £27 billion in inflation busting 20 years of APD

1 November marks 20 years since Air Passenger Duty (APD) was first levied on passengers flying from UK airports, and the A Fair Tax on Flying campaign has revealed the Government’s staggering £27.035 billion tax take over this period.

Reduce Air Passenger Duty to boost domestic air connectivity

Commenting on the news that the Department for Transport has signed a second public service obligation to protect the Newquay-Gatwick route involving £2.5 million of central government funding, BATA Chief Executive, Nathan Stower, said: “The Government could support domestic air services by simply reducing Air Passenger Duty – the world’s highest tax on flying. At £26 for a return ticket on domestic flights, APD hits people flying within the UK for business and leisure particularly hard.”

Thames Estuary – UK airline industry response to Airports Commission decision

Trade body for UK airlines responds to Airports Commission decision to rule out the inner Thames estuary option from the shortlist it will consider before reporting with a final recommendation in 2015.

Nathan Stower Appointed As New BATA Chief Executive

Nathan Stower has been appointed as Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), the trade body representing UK-registered airlines.

Nathan will join BATA on 18 August. He is currently Head of Public Affairs at the Association of Train Operating Companies and was previously Parliamentary and External Affairs Manager at Virgin Atlantic Airways. He will take over from Simon Buck, who is retiring.

BATA Chief Executive to Retire

The British Air Transport Association, the trade body for UK airlines, has announced that its Chief Executive, Simon Buck, will retire from the organisation in September 2014, after 4 years in the role. A recruitment process has been launched to find his successor.