UK tour Operators fight back

Published: 27/02/07

A consortium of UK based tour operators have fought back against Gordon Browns latest stealth tax by taking the government to court over claims that the increase in Air Passenger Duty was an infringement of human rights legislation, and additionally that the Chicago Convention on International Air Travel makes charging passengers a fee to leave the country illegal.

Although the government claims that its tax grab is entirely legal, albeit undemocratic and unfair, it seems that Brown has underestimated the public response to a punitive tax that was dressed up unconvincingly as an environmental measure.

The tax, which effectively doubled in February, has already been found to have several loopholes, including one that allows business class passengers to pay a lower duty if there is no cabin divide on an aircraft.

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