Jeff Smisek, the chief executive of United, also
condemned the European Union for trying to force American carriers into its emissions trading scheme. Mr Smisek, who, following the merger of United with Continental heads an airline with 1,252 aircraft, warned that high aviation taxes in Britain would see business being driven to Europe.
"There will always be services to the UK," Mr Smisek said. But there will be fewer services and fewer jobs. If you chose a tax to destroy an industry, APD is doing a pretty good job."
Critics of the tax point out that the APD for a family of four travelling to Florida in the US has risen from £40 in 1994 to £260 today.
Describing APD as irrational, Mr Smisek also voiced fears of the growing tensions surrounding the EU's attempts to force all airlines – including those from outside Europe – to buy carbon permits.
Last month, the US Senate passed a bill which would effectively make it illegal for American carriers to co-operate with the ETS scheme