Well existing levels of APD are in the opinion of many already damaging the UK economy, this proposal just makes this worse by putting BA at a further disadvantage against foreign competition.
Exactly ! In which case abolish APD altogether.
There is no doubt that LHR does need to be expanded, and IMO and many others it should have already been expanded years ago. However the fact that over 30% of passengers currently passing through LHR enjoy what amounts to an APD tax holiday, when the airport is claimed to be effectively full, doesn't do the pro-expansion lobbyists any favours.