The Co-operative Travel Trading Group has written to Chancellor Gordon Brown urging him to ring-fence the increased Air Passenger Duty tax to the fight against climate change.
The doubling of APD, to £10 for a short haul economy flight and £80 for a business class long haul trip, is introduced on all fights taking off today (Thursday Feb 1).
CTTG chief operating officer Mike Greenacre claimed the only way to alleviate travel industry and consumer anger at the doubling of APD is to spend the money on projects to fight against climate change.
Greenacre claims the Government will raise an extra £1 billion a year through the APD increase.
“There is strong case for sending a message to the pubic that the tax they pay is a direct benefit to the environment,” wrote Greenacre in his letter.
He also criticises the retrospective way the APD was introduced.
“It left the travel industry, a major contributor to the success of the UK economy, with a heavy and unfair burden, both financial and administrative,” he added.