The Fair Tax on Flying lobby is being strengthened with the addition of two new influential industry groups.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies and the World Travel & Tourism Council have joined the ranks to fight Air Passenger Duty ahead of an expected further 8% rise next month.
The campaign group is in dialogue with a number of other unnamed organisations about participation.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer described the new partners as “a significant addition to the campaign”.
“As we prepare for the Chancellor’s Budget statement on March 21, A Fair Tax on Flying campaign is looking to broaden the coalition and unite the widest industry alliance possible,” he said.
“The GTMC and WTTC’s decision to join the campaign is a further sign that we can achieve more when we come together. A Fair Tax on Flying members will continue to call for the Chancellor to reconsider his double inflation increase in APD planned for April.”
GTMC chief executive Anne Godfrey said: “The GTMC is determined to see the industry speak with one voice and we look forward to contributing to the collective effort to make our case to the Treasury.
“The GTMC’s members are increasingly seeing travellers consider other options due to the UK’s high aviation taxes and we strongly believe that this is damaging the UK’s economy.”
WTTC communications director Toby Nicol said: “The Autumn Statement made it clear that the Treasury still remains to be persuaded about the damage that APD is having on the British economy.
“That’s why we feel that it is crucial, strategically, for as many organisations from the travel, tourism and aviation sectors to make a powerful case to the Treasury.”
The campaign last week announced a number of new activities for 2012 including commissioning new research to analyse the damage that APD is having on the wider economy and the launch of a new website and e-petition to enable consumers to back the campaign and show their support.