APD
 

Whilst not being a fan of Messrs Walsh and O'Leary I applaud them for their comments about this wretched duty which is preventing the airline industry from expanding.

Without getting too political this govt certainly have shot themselves in the foot by raising APD. The more it goes up the less people that will travel. The less people travel the less tourism for the UK. The less tourism in the less jobs available.

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15769179

Simon Calder
 

I've just viewed Simon Calder's comments on the Beeb. I have to say that they seem ill-informed, and counter-productive.

"Britain is still the world centre for airline travel." Does he have the facts to back up that incredible statement. I think not!

" From the government's point of view, it's a wonderful tax because a high proportion of foreign people have to pay it, and they don't vote." Oh yes they do Mr Calder, with their feet!

Man's a fool. :*

Ahh, you are expecting politicians to think of the consequences over the next ten years - as opposed to the results of the next populatrity poll?

Maybe Wee Willie would like to reconsider the £360 he wants to charge me to pre allocate 3 seats out and back (yes £360!). And yes I will take the chance the family wont sit together.

"Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary told the BBC that removing APD would not increase the airlines' profits. "This has nothing to do with our profits. It is paid by families, paid by passengers going on holidays," he said.
"If it is scrapped, the money goes straight back into families' pockets."

Oh yeah? Methinks any reduction in APD would soon be taken up by an increase in the base fare ending up at roughly the same tax-paid sum as now. That's why we had the hitherto unlikely sight of the Battling Irish Twins standing side by side :*

Don't overlook that APD is at the level it is now not through these incremental increases but because it was doubled in 2007. Has any tax ever been doubled - jist like that?

That announcement came on the same day as the decision to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent. Now there's a thought - airline passengers funding weapons of mass destruction.