UK in bottom two for aviation competitiveness
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The UK is on par with Senegal and Chad in its airport competitiveness, placing 139th out of 140 countries.
A World Economic Forum Report (WFP) has placed the UK one away from the bottom of its country list based on airport and aviation tax competitiveness.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG; Carolyn McCall, chief executive easyJet; Michael O’Leary, chief executive Ryanair and Craig Kreeger, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic jointly issued a statement voicing their dismay at the ranking.
“It’s hard to find another comparable table on a key measure of international competitiveness which shows the UK to be trailing the rest of the world. This isn’t just a blow to our national pride but demonstrates the unjustified level of Air Passenger Duty and, following the recent PwC report, provides further evidence that the Chancellor must take action in the Budget on this destructive tax,” their statement read.
The bosses continued their call for APD to be abolished and were joined by ABTA’s Mark Tanzer, who has written to Chancellor George Osborne with an action plan to grow tourism.
As well as APD the letter outlines the need for airport expansion and HS2 connection from Heathrow; addressing tight consumer spend and reducing regulation.
“We understand that the Government has to make some economic tough decisions, but it is also important to focus on policies that deliver growth,” said Tanzer.
A PwC report estimated scrapping APD would boost GDP by GBP16 billion in three years.
