More than half of UK adults who have flown on holiday in the past four years want APD scrapped or reduced.
Exclusive research for Travel Weekly ahead of the chancellor’s autumn statement reveals the scale of opposition to APD among holidaymakers.
The survey, conducted last month by research firm TNS, found just under half (45%) of UK adults wanted APD reduced or scrapped, but the proportion rose to 55% among those who had taken a holiday abroad since 2007.
Two in five of the general population had never heard of APD, according to the survey of more than 2,000 adults. Of these, 61% had taken a holiday overseas since 2007, including 34% this year.
Among these holidaymakers, TNS found 29% wanted APD scrapped and 26% wanted it reduced. A little over one in four (27%) were unaware of the tax. Fewer than one in five (18%) of this group thought the duty fair, agreeing that “if you can afford to fly, then it is fair you pay” the tax.
Among the adult population as a whole, a slightly smaller proportion (15%) thought APD fair. One in four (25%) wanted it scrapped and 20% reduced.
The rate of demand to scrap the tax clearly increases with the level of awareness of APD.
The proportion of those who had never heard of APD was highest among the young: 62% of 16 to 24-year-olds compared with 33% of those aged 35 to 64. Lack of awareness of APD was also half the rate among upper and middle‑class respondents (25%) as among skilled and unskilled workers and those not working (52%).
In line with this, demand to scrap the tax was highest among those aged 45 to 54 (34%). Demands to scrap or reduce the tax were repeated by 57% of 45 to 54-year-olds, and by more than half (51%) of upper, middle and lower middle-class respondents.
However, the view that APD is fair also peaked among those most aware of the tax, at 22% among 55 to 64-year-olds and 25% among upper and middle-class adults. This was more than double the rate (11%) among unskilled workers and those out of work. By contrast fewer than one in 10 (8%) of 16 to 24-year-olds in the survey said the tax was fair.
Opposition to the current rate of tax on flying was highest among long-haul flyers – those who have paid most APD. Three out of five (59%) of those who had flown on a long-haul holiday in the past four years said they wanted the tax scrapped or reduced. However, this group also showed the highest rate of those who considered APD fair (20%).
Yet this long-haul group represents less than one in four of the population (24%), suggesting the government is more likely to be moved by the opinions of the larger group who fly short-haul.
● TNS surveyed 2,035 UK adults face to face on October 14-18.