Almost 10% of MPs have backed a call for a review of the impact of high levels of Air Passenger Duty on the economy.
A total of 62 MPs are signed up to a Parliamentary early day motion which is calling on the Treasury to commission a comprehensive study into the full economic effects of aviation tax in the UK.
It follows three weeks of campaigning by the industry’s A Fair Tax on Flying lobhy group which is encouraging constituents to write to their MP about the spiralling costs of APD.
Organisers say that more than 13,000 people have now emailed their MP via the campaign website, http://www.afairtaxonflying.org/. It follows a push this week from Virgin Atlantic that is now including a campaign message on all e-tickets to encourage passengers to support the initiative.
Airport Operators Association chief executive Darren Caplan said: “More than 60 MPs have now added their names to EDM 174, calling on the government to commission new research into the impact of APD on the UK economy.
This is a major milestone for the campaign – which is encouraging MPs to back the motion – demonstrating widespread concern among MPs for the damage the tax is having on the UK economy and on ordinary families.
“What’s more, it is now a truly cross-party alliance of senior parliamentarians. From Conservative 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady MP, select committee chairperson Keith Vaz MP and former party leader Charles Kennedy MP, parliamentarians from the three main Westminster parties have come together to speak with one voice.
“However, there remains a long way to go, and we need as many people as possible to visit www.afairtaxonflying.org to spend just a few seconds emailing their MP on this important issue.”