Up in the air … aviation news

Tax take – The UK government will get approximately £3.2 billion from Air Passenger Duty (APD) in the current tax year. Industry campaigners claim this puts it among the top yielding stealth taxes, despite recent positive reforms to the tax on long-haul flights.

Renewing its calls for an urgent review and reduction of APD ahead of next year’s general election, A Fair Tax on Flying estimates that £1 billion of last year's £3 billion in air tax was raised by leisure travellers. With a family of four now paying on average £52 in taxes for short-haul flights and £276 on long-haul to destinations such as Florida, or £340 to Jamaica, India and Pakistan, the campaign is arguing that the tax is out of step with the government's own family test.

It estimates that air passengers have been taxed by more than £27 billion since the introduction of APD 20 years ago.
Airlines wanted – Cardiff airport boss Debra Barber has pledged to attract more airlines in an effort to reverse declining passenger numbers. Latest figures show a 7% drop in the number of passengers in the year to September.

Barber told the BBC: ‘It's a tough climate for smaller airports at the moment, the economic situation has had a big impact on the situation and we've got to respond to that. We're working hard with the airlines to get them back in here, to get sustainable routes that we know are going to last and stay the distance. It's all about making sure we offer passengers the best possible experience when they come here so that their choice is to come here rather than go across the bridge to Bristol.’

More than one million people travelled from Cardiff in the last year, but Bristol’s total was 4.5 million.

Bibao-bound – British Airways customers will be able to fly direct to Bilbao next year when the airline starts a new double-daily service to the northern Spanish city.

ePassports – easyJet has launched a passport scanning function on its mobile app. It means customers can use their iOS or Android-based device to scan their details and make it easier to check in.

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Stansted gets more ePassport gates

THE number of automated ePassport gates at Stansted has been tripled to 15. The gates provide European Economic Area nationals aged 18 and travelling with a biometric passport the choice of an automated route to the UK.

The gates use facial recognition technology to provide identity and security checks. Once these are completed the gate opens automatically to allow cleared passengers through the border.

Border Force officers monitor the system and travellers rejected by the gates are directed to the normal clearance desk. The ePassport gates have been jointly funded by the Home Office and Manchester Airport Group, the owners of Stansted.

There are now 109 ePassport gates in use at 18 UK airports.

Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire says: ‘Keeping the UK's border secure is our priority. At the same time, we want to welcome legitimate visitors and trade which contributes to the UK economy.’

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