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Airport Operators Association Media Release

For immediate release – 10 May 2011

A recent survey conducted by ComRes / Airport Operators Association (AOA), found that over two thirds of MPs did not know that double taxation for air passengers is looming in 2012. A substantial majority of MPs were unfamiliar with the planned entry of the UK aviation industry into the EU Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) in 2012. This additional tax, coupled with a substantial increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) next year, will mean that air passengers face double taxation on flights).  However, of those MPs who did know about the additional tax caused by the introduction of the EU ETS, 63% believe that APD should be reduced or abolished.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, said:
“The ComRes / AOA survey shows that the majority of MPs do not know that air passengers will face onerous double taxation on flights from 2012. It is shocking that our policy-makers are unaware that holidaymakers and business people will be paying a new cost on flying – the EU Emissions Trading Scheme – as well as even more APD, already the highest in the world.

“Of those MPs who do actually know what is going on, more than 60% support the reduction or scrapping of APD to encourage economic growth by ensuring that passengers do not face a further tax rise in what are already tough economic times for everybody.”

Andrew Hawkins, Chairman of ComRes added:
“Fuel duty in one form or another has long proved a toxic issue politically and the impact of the ETS should not be ignored by politicians.  It is notable that of MPs who are aware of it, the majority view is to ameliorate its impact by varying Air Passenger Duty.  The ETS issue has all the hallmarks of a powerfully dangerous political mix.”

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Note to Editors:

Survey statistics, for full data tables go to www.comres.co.uk

  • The survey took place between 9 March and 4 April 2011, surveying 154 MPs
  • 67% of MPs are broadly unfamiliar with the entry of the UK aviation industry into the ETS
  • 40% feel that they don’t know enough about ETS to comment on what should happen to APD
  • MPs that are aware tend to feel APD should be reduced or abolished (63%)

Both Andrew Hawkins (ComRes) and Darren Caplan (AOA) are available for comment and interview. Please contact:

About the Airport Operators Association

Who we are:
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade association that represents the authoritative voice of UK airports

What we do:
Our mission is to see UK airports grow sustainably. We represent the views of UK airports to Government, Parliament and Regulators to secure policy outcomes that help deliver our mission.

Who we represent:
The AOA represents 72 UK airports and general aviation airfields in the UK. For more, see www.aoa.org.uk .

About ComRes

ComRes is an award-winning polling and research consultancy offering the most extensive range of political research tools ever created, as well as the full breadth of quantitative and qualitative research facilities. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and Association for Qualitative Research and employs members of the Market Research Society.

Methodology note:

ComRes surveyed 154 MPs on the ComRes Parliamentary Panel between March 9th and April 4th 2011 by self-completion postal questionnaire and online. Data were weighted to reflect the exact composition of the House of Commons in terms of party representation and regional constituency distribution. Full data tables can be found at www.comres.co.uk