The negative impact on travellers of Monday’s hike in Air Passenger Duty is being highlighted by lobby group A Fair Tax on Flying.
The rise in APD – confirmed by Chancellor George Osborne in the Budget – means that people buying tickets from April 1 will incur a new increased levy on flights leaving the UK.
A family of four flying in economy class to Florida will now pay £268 in APD, while a family of four flying to the Caribbean will pay £332.
British Air Transport Association chief executive Simon Buck said: “The government has hit hard-working families where it hurts with many families having to pay hundreds of pounds in air passenger taxes on their annual getaway.
“It’s not good enough to continue increase Air Passenger Duty when the clear economic evidence shows that it both damages the UK economy and adds hundreds of pounds onto the annual tax bill of many families who fly overseas every year.”
The new rates are:
Band A (0-2,000 miles)
Reduced rate: £13
Standard rate: £26
Band B (2,001-4,000 miles)
Reduced rate: £67
Standard rate: £134
Band C (4,001-6,000 miles)
Reduced rate: £83
Standard rate: £166
Band D (over 6,000 miles)
Reduced rate: £94
Standard rate: £188