Planning a trip from UK airports in the next few months? Get ready to dig a little deeper into your pockets.
The change in the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) officially kicks off on April 1st, according to EuroNews. Even though this is a legal fee imposed directly on airlines and aircraft operators, passengers will feel the full impact. The fee automatically gets added to the final ticket price at booking.
How will the rates change?
The tax amount depends on two key factors:
- The distance flown,
- The chosen travel class.
The lowest rates traditionally apply to passengers in economy class, while roomier seats and private flights are taxed more heavily.
Medium and long-haul flights: Flights to the USA or the United Arab Emirates in economy class will go up from 104 to 118 euros. Those flying to farther spots like Australia, Japan, or Thailand face a jump from 108 to 122 euros. In premium (business and first class), this fee will soar to 292 euros.
Private Flights: Users of private jets will see the steepest increase. For long-haul flights, the fee will rise from the current 776 euros to over 1,315 euros.
Airlines are adding their own fees
Rising government taxes aren’t the only reason for increasing ticket prices. Airlines are responding to more expensive fuel and rising operational costs. Ryanair has already announced plans to raise prices by about four percent. The Lufthansa group has introduced higher international and fuel surcharges, while carriers like Air France and KLM are now charging roughly 50 euros more for long-haul flights in economy class.
