The low-cost carrier has long argued that the current APD is unfair and should be replaced. However, it claims other airlines and groups are lobbying the Government to change its mind over switching from APD to a per-plane tax.
Under the heading ‘Make air tax greener’, the easyJet adverts make the point that transfer passengers and cargo flights should both pay, while long-haul flights and higher polluting aircraft should pay more.
A spokesman said: ‘An airline that wants a free ride for their passengers means that short-haul passengers will have to pay more.
This is not right – and why we are taking out full page adverts in the national press to show our support for the politicians and telling them to stand up to the dinosaurs in our industry.
‘Passengers flying in the newest, cleanest aircraft cause less pollution and should not pay the same as someone flying in an old gas-guzzling aircraft.
‘But other airlines, especially those with older, long haul aircraft flying from hubs, are not as forward thinking as easyJet.
'Many airlines are secretly lobbying the Government to get a free ride for their transfer passengers (who already get a £350m subsidy by avoiding APD) and for their longest flights. Some cargo airlines think their planes should continue to pay no tax at all.’
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Lords call for more legroom/lower APD (13/12/07)
UKinbound criticises latest APD proposal (11/10/07)
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