An 'astounding' tax increase on ultra-long haul flights will 'penalise' a global Britain and be a further blow to airlines recovering from the impact of Covid, aviation chiefs have warned.
Airline bosses have reacted with fury over the Government's plan to slap a £91 passenger duty (APD) on flights to far flung destinations such as Australia, east Asia and large parts of South America from 2023.
At the same time, taxes on domestic flights will be slashed by 50 per cent, in what will be a major boost to firms focusing on short haul journeys.
Aviation bosses say the new ultra-long haul charge will unfairly punish carriers who have faced major disruption and a huge drop in passenger numbers since March last year due to Covid.
However, the Government chief scientific adviser today said Britons should be reducing the amount of flights they take.
Sir Patrick Vallance said that Britons should look to use more active travel - such as walking and cycling - and rather than domestic flights should use trains instead.
It comes as Rishi Sunak, in yesterday's autumn budget, announced plans for a new ultra-long haul charge for airline passengers travelling to long-distance destinations.
An 'astounding' tax increase on ultra-long haul flights will 'penalise' a global Britain and be a further blow to airlines recovering from the impact of Covid, aviation chiefs have warned. Library image of a flight landing at Heathrow airport
Willie Walsh, head of body trade body Iata, said it was 'astounding that the Chancellor thinks now is the time to raise the cost of flying'. Sir Patrick Vallance said that Britons should look to use more active travel - such as walking and cycling - and rather than domestic flights should use trains instead.
The charge, which will be brought in from April 2023, is a new level on top of the current long distance charge.
Current long haul destinations, such as the US, Dubai and Brazil, will remain in the current long haul area of air passenger duty - which will rise from £82 to £87.
But even longer haul destinations will now be moved into a new area, the ultra-long haul zone, which will be charged at £91.
Luis Gallego, boss of British Airways owner IAG, said that increasing APD on long-haul flights 'will penalise Global Britain'.
He also said the move will 'limit the airlines' ability to invest in green technologies'.
Meanwhile, Willie Walsh, Mr Gallego's predecessor and now head
