Are you traveling in a premium cabin? This is the new tax they can impose on you

The UK will introduce new increases to the air passenger tax, or Air Passenger Duty (APD), paid by those traveling by air. Premium cabinsThis is in accordance with what was decided in the spring budget. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also announced when presenting the new forecasts to the British government.

Economy, Business and First Class passengers currently pay between £13 for domestic flights, within the UK only, and £200 for longer flights, over 5,500 miles, departing from the UK. It has already been announced that these bands will increase to £14 and £202, effective from 1 April 2024.

But in Find your spring budget He stressed that “the government is making an exceptional adjustment to the prices of Air Passenger Rights (APD) for non-economic passengers to take into account the high inflation in recent years and help preserve the value of Air Passenger Rights (APD) in real terms.”

This amendment will come into effect from April 1, 2025:

• The premium cabin fare on domestic flights will remain at £14 from 1 April 2024, but Band A flights (those up to 2,000 miles) will rise from £26 to £28.
• Band B flights (those between 2,001 and 5,500 miles) will see non-economy APD fares increase from £194 to £216.
• Band C fares (for flights over 5,500 miles) will increase by £22, from £202 payable from 1 April 2024, to £224 payable from 1 April 2025.

Fares for economy class passengers will remain broadly the same as those set on 1 April 2024 (between £7 and £92), although there will be a smaller increase for longer flights from 1 April 2025, with Band B and C fares. It rises by £2.

Hunt said that 70% of passengers will benefit from the frozen fares. For her part, Karen Dee, CEO of the Airport Operators Association, said: “It is disappointing to see air passenger rates for business travellers increasing, especially when data shows that this sector has not yet recovered to 2019 levels.” This is despite the government's previous pledge not to increase aviation taxes.

He added that business travelers are responsible for increasing foreign investment in the UK, opening new markets for British goods and services, and creating jobs across the country. “We have to encourage them to come to the UK, making it easier for them to invest here, without putting more barriers in their way,” he said.