The Chancellor’s decision to abolish Air Passenger Duty for children led to immediate demands that the government go further.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA parent International Airlines Group, said: “Scrapping APD for children might be popular with some voters and will definitely be welcomed by hard-pressed families travelling on their summer holidays, but it will do nothing to improve the UK economy.
“APD must be axed in its entirety not just for children. The UK still has the highest flying tax in the world.”
EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall said: “This is really good news for families which will provide savings of £13 per child on flights to destinations in Europe and as much as £69 on our longer flights.”
“We hope this is the first step towards the abolition of APD.”McCall called on all political parties “to commit to the complete abolition of this damaging tax”.
Flybe chief executive Saad Hammad said: “The scrapping of APD on flights for children under the age of 12 is to be welcomed. However, this is just tinkering at the edges and represents a missed opportunity by The Chancellor to show he is serious about economic regeneration of the UK regions.
“The needs of regional passengers are still being ignored. It’s time for the Chancellor to seriously listen to the UK regions and deliver reform quickly.”
British Air Transport Association chief executive Nathan Stower described the move as “an early stocking filler for families”, but said: “Introducing the first change for children under-12 in May presents significant practical difficulties.
“The industry has always said changes to APD should have at least a 12-month lead in time due to advance bookings.”
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger said: “This is another step on the long road to reform of this economically damaging tax.
“There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the huge benefits of reducing or abolishing APD across the whole of the UK.”
Hugo Burge, chief executive of Momondo, said: “This is a step in the right direction and welcome news for families, but the UK still has punishingly high aviation taxes.
“There is still a long way to go to wind back a series of increases which has seen APD rise from just £5 in 1994 to the £71-plus in tax which British holidaymakers will continue to pay for long haul.”
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) congratulated the UK Chancellor. But WTTC president and chief executive David Scowsill said: “The pledge does not go far enough.
“The next government needs to dramatically reduce or abolish APD. The tax is self-defeating and is overdue to be consigned to history.”