Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates will rise from April 1, 2028 (Image: Getty)
Flights heading to popular European holiday hotspots including Spain, France, Portugal and Greece will be hit with a new £15.49 charge from April.
The UK Government will increase all rates of Air Passenger Duty (APD) from April 1, 2027, which is likely to have a knock-on effect for air fares, resulting in pricier ticket prices for passengers. APD is a tax paid by airline operators to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for passengers departing from UK airports, with the rates varying depending on the length of flights and the class of travel. It applies to passengers aged 16 or over travelling on both domestic and international flights and was first introduced in 1994 to offset the environmental impact of air travel.
While the tax is paid by airline operators, ticket prices usually include a charge to cover this cost and airlines then pass the fee to HMRC, so any hike to APD typically means more expensive air fares for UK passengers.
HMRC has confirmed the new APD rates from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028, and depending on where you’re travelling to and what class you’re travelling in, the rates vary between £8.26 to and £1,178.20 per person.
The flight taxes are divided across four different bands which vary based on where you’re travelling to, with longer distance flights incurring higher charges, and the class of travel which are split across three categories:
- a reduced rate – this applies to the lowest class of travel on a plane, such as economy
- a standard rate – this applies to any other class of travel, such as business or first class, where the seat pitch is more than 40 inches
- a higher rate – this applies to travel in planes of 20 tonnes or more that carry no more than 19 passengers, such as private jets.
From April 1, 2027, domestic flight charges for economy class will cost £8.26, up from £8 currently, while travelling in business class will costs £16.52, up from £16.
Band A covers flights from zero to 2,000 miles, which would include all of Europe and the majority of North Africa, so travel to Spain, France, Portugal and Greece, among other popular European hotspots, would fall into this category.
Under the April 2027 rates, passengers flying economy to Band A destinations will face a 52p increase, with costs rising from £16 to £16.52, while those flying business, first or premium economy face a £1.04 increase, with rates rising from £32 to £33.04.
Economy passengers travelling to Band A destinations will be hit with an increase of £4 from the current £28 fee to £32 from April, while those flying business, first or premium economy will see rates go up from £84 to £142.
Band B covers flights between 2,001 to 5,500 miles which would include destinations such as the USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates and India.
Economy passengers travelling to band B destinations will face a £105.33 charge for economy travel from April 2027, up from £102 currently, while a £251.95 charge will apply to higher classes, up from £244.
Band C applies to destinations over 5,500 miles from the UK, such as Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, with economy rates set to rise to £109.49, up from £106, while premium rates will increase from £253 to £261.25.
Explaining the charges from next April, HMRC said: “Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to flights aboard aircraft 5.7 tonnes and above. Rates for direct long-haul flights from Northern Ireland are devolved and set at £0. Direct long-haul journeys are those where the first leg of the journey is to a destination outside Band A.
“Where a class of travel provides a seat pitch in excess of 1.016 metres (40 inches), the standard rate is the minimum rate that applies.
“From 1 April 2027, the higher rate applies to aircraft of 5.7 tonnes and above operating as a business jet. An aircraft operates as a business jet where the time or location of departure or arrival of the flight was negotiated by or for the passenger, or the flight is not a scheduled public flight.”
Listed is a full breakdown of the new APD rates from April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028, for flights in each band:
Domestic band
- Reduced rate (lowest class of travel) – £8.26
- Standard rate (other than the lowest class of travel) – £16.52
- Higher rate – £146.63
Band A (flights from 0 to 2,000 miles)
- Reduced rate – £15.49
- Standard rate – £33.04
- Higher rate – £146.63
Band B (flights from 2,001 to 5,500 miles)
- Reduced rate – £105.33
- Standard rate – £251.95
- Higher rate – £1,132.76
Band C (flights more than 5,500 miles)
- Reduced rate – £109.46
- Standard rate – £261.25
- Higher rate – £1,178.20
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
