A third of UK travellers would cancel overseas holiday plans if they were forced to pay an extra £30 in tax on top of their air fare, a poll shows today.
The results of the HolidayExtras.com survey of 1,577 customers were released to coincide with the coalition government’s emergency budget today. Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce a swathe of tax rises including a per plane levy on airlines which could have a knock-on effect on prices.
The survey found that 34% of British travellers would cancel their plans if a £30 tax was bolted onto their air fare, while 28% wouldn’t fly if a £50 tax was added to their flight.
A tax of more than £100 per flight was enough to put off a further four per cent of those surveyed, with only 20% willing to go on holiday regardless of additional costs.
HolidayExtras.com managing editor Mike Whiting said: “Clearly the travelling public are very sensitive to price and would not support tax increases on the cost of their flight tickets, and may well vote with their feet.
“With talk of air passenger duty rising to £300 per person for some journeys, this could mean tough times for the travel industry and the British economy as a whole.”