MPs speak up against unfair travel tax

MPs Chuka Umunna and Diane Abbot have spoken against the UK’s system of air passenger duty which adversely impacts on those travelling to the Caribbean.

Air passenger duty has risen four-fold since 2006 and is currently the highest aviation tax in the world. Reforms have been criticised as major discrepancies in the charging of the tax on flights remain. With rates determined by the distance of a country’s capital city rather than the traveller’s destination, taxes on flights to the Caribbean are still higher than taxes to flights to the USA despite the shorter distance. 

Mr Umunna joined Diane Abbott MP, who secured a House of Commons debate last week to highlight the lack of fairness in the current system of air passenger duty (APD).

Although the government has said it is reviewing the system by which APD is calculated, having announced this in its June Budget, Treasury Minister Justine Greening, responding in the debate, was unable to clarify when the review will conclude when asked by Mr Umunna, and did not outline any further details.

However, she did confirm that any changes would be subject to a further consultation.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Umunna said:  “I represent one of the constituencies with the biggest Caribbean Diaspora populations in the country. It covers Brixton, for example, and this is a huge issue in my community.

“How can it be fair to charge a greater level of tax to fly to Jamaica - there are many Jamaican families in my constituency - than to fly the whole way to Hawaii? I would appreciate an answer on that.”

Commenting after the debate, Mr Umunna said: “The way APD is currently worked out is grossly unfair on those visiting relatives in the Caribbean and is also potentially very damaging to tourism in the region.

“I urge the government to act quickly on this issue and put in place a new, fairer system of calculating APD as soon as possible.”

And Hackney MP Diane Abbott, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the British Caribbean who called the Westminster Hall debate demanded action to halt the APD rises, she said; “The rates of air passenger duty are a concern for many people in my constituency and travellers up and down the country who take flights to long-haul destinations. The fact that we have the highest aviation tax rates in the world is bad enough; however the irregular way in which duty is calculated is still the biggest matter of contention for those that I have spoken to.

“I am completely confident that through working with Caribbean representatives and politicians of all parties, we will devise a fair and practical solution to the air passenger duty problem, with something that we can take to the Economic Minister that will constructively contribute towards reforming this tax”. 

From last November travelers to the region pay on average an extra US$120 to US$270 on their tickets.

Ms Abbott will also lead a delegation to meet with the Economic Minister to put forward informed suggestions for the reforms to air passenger duty.

Commenting on the issue Sylbourne Sydial, for political networking organisation Facilitators for a Better Jamaica (FFBJ) said; “This is simply an unfair tax, the methods used in setting out the level of calculation by using capitals of countries instead of distance, this highlights the fault and it beggars belief as to how this was passed. Britain is seeking to fill its treasury but it should be done with fairness and reason.

"It is now important for the Caribbean Diaspora led by Caricom and the Caribbean nations to speak as one voice in seeking a resolution as this unfair tax must have a negative impact on the whole of the Caribbean region”.

As well as the Caribbean, APD impacts on flights to all other continents.  

Winsome-Grace Cornish