How about the fuel surcharge Mr Ridgeway?
Discussion
Yes, I'd love to support you to get APD cut, but how about you (and BA!) cut out the extortionate fuel surcharge I have to pay on every flight? Even an airmiles flight costs over £300 in economy thanks to both of these charges.
Email from Virgin said:
Air Passenger Duty - A message from Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive - Virgin Atlantic
Dear Targarama,
It's hard to believe we're half way through the year already.
From Vancouver and Cancun inaugurals to the launch of our new Upper Class Suite, we are working around the clock to make flying with Virgin Atlantic more enjoyable than ever. I'm delighted to have announced an additional service to New York (our 6th daily flight) and our return to Mumbai with significantly improved departure times from October. With brand new Clubhouses in New York, new aircraft and our award winning service at Heathrow, there won't be a better way to fly between London and New York. Our Mumbai service, alongside Delhi, opens up new opportunities for our Indian and American passengers to fly via Heathrow and brings much needed competition to this important business route for consumers.
As we enter the hectic summer season when your thoughts might be turning to holidays, I wanted to take the opportunity to contact you about an issue that affects all our passengers, particularly our valued Flying Club members - UK Air Passenger Duty.
Air Passenger Duty, or APD for short, is the tax you have to pay every time you fly from a UK airport. Introduced in the 1990s, over the last six years APD rates have gone through the roof for long-haul travel. A family of four flying in Economy to the Caribbean in 2006 paid £80 tax. From April this year they have to pay £324, and if they were to travel in Premium Economy or Upper Class they would have to pay £648.
APD has now the dubious distinction of being the highest air passenger tax in the world. I know these rate increases have had a big impact on our customers. In 2006 our passengers paid £55 million to the Treasury. By last year that figure had jumped to almost £200 million!
The Government is facing an enormous economic challenge and we understand the need to reduce the deficit. Tax revenues are inevitably part of that solution but we also need economic growth. Air travel can play a huge part in driving that growth by connecting businesses and bringing in overseas visitors. Our fear is that at the current levels APD is damaging the UK's competitiveness, holding back the economy and doing more damage than the revenue received.
We have taken every opportunity to highlight the cost of high APD to our passengers, our business, and the UK economy as a whole, sadly with limited effect. We refuse to give up, but we need your help.
We are supporting a new Fair Tax on Flying campaign that is encouraging people to email their MP to register their opposition to high flying taxes. If you share our concerns, please take a moment to visit www.afairtaxonflying.org and make your voice heard. I have, and it takes just 15 seconds to do (the text of an email is already written, you just need to enter your postcode and send it).
Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you onboard soon.
Kind regards,
Steve Ridgway
Dear Targarama,
It's hard to believe we're half way through the year already.
From Vancouver and Cancun inaugurals to the launch of our new Upper Class Suite, we are working around the clock to make flying with Virgin Atlantic more enjoyable than ever. I'm delighted to have announced an additional service to New York (our 6th daily flight) and our return to Mumbai with significantly improved departure times from October. With brand new Clubhouses in New York, new aircraft and our award winning service at Heathrow, there won't be a better way to fly between London and New York. Our Mumbai service, alongside Delhi, opens up new opportunities for our Indian and American passengers to fly via Heathrow and brings much needed competition to this important business route for consumers.
As we enter the hectic summer season when your thoughts might be turning to holidays, I wanted to take the opportunity to contact you about an issue that affects all our passengers, particularly our valued Flying Club members - UK Air Passenger Duty.
Air Passenger Duty, or APD for short, is the tax you have to pay every time you fly from a UK airport. Introduced in the 1990s, over the last six years APD rates have gone through the roof for long-haul travel. A family of four flying in Economy to the Caribbean in 2006 paid £80 tax. From April this year they have to pay £324, and if they were to travel in Premium Economy or Upper Class they would have to pay £648.
APD has now the dubious distinction of being the highest air passenger tax in the world. I know these rate increases have had a big impact on our customers. In 2006 our passengers paid £55 million to the Treasury. By last year that figure had jumped to almost £200 million!
The Government is facing an enormous economic challenge and we understand the need to reduce the deficit. Tax revenues are inevitably part of that solution but we also need economic growth. Air travel can play a huge part in driving that growth by connecting businesses and bringing in overseas visitors. Our fear is that at the current levels APD is damaging the UK's competitiveness, holding back the economy and doing more damage than the revenue received.
We have taken every opportunity to highlight the cost of high APD to our passengers, our business, and the UK economy as a whole, sadly with limited effect. We refuse to give up, but we need your help.
We are supporting a new Fair Tax on Flying campaign that is encouraging people to email their MP to register their opposition to high flying taxes. If you share our concerns, please take a moment to visit www.afairtaxonflying.org and make your voice heard. I have, and it takes just 15 seconds to do (the text of an email is already written, you just need to enter your postcode and send it).
Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you onboard soon.
Kind regards,
Steve Ridgway
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff