UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) changes - eff. Nov. 1, 2009
The UK Government has announced that effective for travel from November 1, 2009, the Air Passenger Duty (APD) will change.
The APD is an excise tax levied by the UK Government on passengers departing UK airports at the time of ticket issue (under the ticket code GB). The APD would also apply to all passengers with round-trip journeys to London (i.e. JFK-LHR-JFK) but not those transiting through. All airlines are affected.
From November 1, 2009, APD levels will be grouped into 4 bands depending on the distance from London to the capital city of the destination country. In addition, the current policy of taxing premium cabins (First, Club World and World Traveller Plus) at a higher rate will continue.
The old APD level (prior to November 1, 2009) for international flights was GB40 for economy and GBP80 for premium cabins.
The new levels effective November 1, 2009 are outlined below:
Distance from London (in miles)
Economy cabin (World Traveller)
Premium cabins (First, Club World and World Traveller Plus)
Band A (0 - 2,000)
£11
£22
Band B (2,001 - 4,000)
£45
£90
Band C (4,001 - 6, 000)
£50
£100
Band D (6,001 + )
£55
£110
Please note: 1) Premium cabin for the purposes of APD: First, Club (Business), World Traveller Plus. BA does not feature a Premium cabin on its Domestic services with the exception of flights to Jersey.
2) APD does not apply to travel commencing in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. However it does apply for travel to them.
3) Europe for the purposes of APD is: The European Union plus the following Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Iceland, Kosovo (under UN interim admin), Former Yugoslav Rep of Macedonia, Norway, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey.
4) Travel from the following Highlands & Islands airports is exempt from APD. However travel to those airports will be subject to APD.
Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree, Wick
5) The only exception is Russia, which is split into east and west of the Urals.
