Major tour operators are considering a consumer campaign to publicise the impact of the Air Passenger Duty increase and embarrass the Government.
No details of the publicity campaign were available as Travel Weekly went to press.
ABTA head of policy and communications David Marshall said: “Everyone is in the process of deciding what to do. ABTA is not giving firm advice at the moment.”
Operators have delayed adding the increase to holiday prices amid confusion about how to respond. One reason for the delay is a fear of losing sales to lower-priced rivals that do not follow suit. An industry source said: “Everyone is scared of looking too expensive.”
But operators face having to find the additional tax payments on bookings already made and losing more money on future bookings the longer they hesitate.
First Choice, which last week pulled its carbon offsetting scheme in response to the APD rise, is still hoping for a Government climb down. A spokeswoman said: “It’s very early days and we are still considering our position.”
A TUI spokesman said: “We have not decided what to do about adding the increase to bookings. Our brochures have already been printed and we have three seasons on sale. But we’ve come to terms with bookings already made. There is no way of getting the tax back.”
He added it was hard to foresee Thomsonfly seeking retrospective tax payments from passengers already booked on scheduled flights.
Industry view
“This is a punitive increase that will do nothing to improve the environment while putting UK aviation at a major disadvantage.”
Roger Wiltshire, British Air Transport Association
“I hope there is a level of common sense on the part of Trading Standards and it will allow brochure prices to be increased. If not, it will show a farcical disregard for the realities of commercial life.”
Andy Cooper, FTO
“It’s a tax on airlines, for every passenger they carry, rather than a tax on passengers. How airlines meet it is up to them. All taxes are kept under review, but it’s not up for debate.”
Treasury spokesman
“There is no other purchase for which a consumer would be expected to pay more a week after the purchase because the tax had gone up.”
ABTA spokeswoman
“If the Government really wants to curb travel it should tax the aircraft.”
Noel Josephides, Sunvil