Quick-haul and long-haul flights might be costlier from this month.
Air Passenger Obligation (APD) charges are rising from April 1 (Picture: Getty)
Flights to fashionable vacation hotspots throughout Europe, together with Spain, France, Portugal and Greece, might be hit with a brand new £32 cost from right this moment.
As of Wednesday, April 1, Air Passenger Obligation (APD) charges have elevated and that is more likely to have a knock-on impact for air fares, which means pricier tickets for passengers. APD is a tax paid by airline operators to HM Income and Customs (HMRC) for passengers departing from UK airports, with the charges various relying on the size of flights and the category of journey. It applies to passengers aged 16 or over travelling on each home and worldwide flights and was first launched in 1994 to offset the environmental impression of air journey.
Whereas the tax is paid by airline operators, ticket costs normally embody a cost to cowl this price and airways then move the payment to HMRC, so any hike to APD usually means costlier air fares for UK passengers.
The brand new APD charges will apply from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, and relying on the place you’re travelling to and what class you’re travelling in, the charges differ between £8 to and £1,141 per particular person.
Financial system passengers pays the least APD, with enterprise and first-class passengers brunting the upper expenses, however in fact the payment will differ based mostly on how far you’re flying.
The flight taxes are divided into 4 bands, with the most affordable being home flights and those who fall into Band A. Home flight expenses for economic system class have gone up from £14 to £16 as of April 1, whereas enterprise class charges have elevated from £84 to £142.
Band A covers flights from zero to 2,000 miles, which would come with all of Europe and the vast majority of North Africa, so journey to Spain, France, Portugal and Greece, amongst different fashionable European hotspots, would fall into this class.
Financial system passengers travelling to Band A locations have been hit with a £4 improve, with charges going up from £28 to £32 from April 1, whereas charges for these flying enterprise, first or premium economic system have gone up from £84 to £142.
Band B covers flights between 2,001 to five,500 miles which would come with locations such because the USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates and India.
Charges for economic system passengers travelling to Band B locations have gone up from £216 to £244 , whereas charges for larger lessons have elevated to £1,097, up from £647.
Band C applies to locations over 5,500 miles from the UK, akin to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, with economic system charges now up from £224 to £253, and premium charges up from £674 to £1,141.
The Workplace for Price range Duty (OBR) predicts the newest will increase will generate £5.2 billion for the exchequer by 2027, in comparison with £4.6 billion this yr.
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Here’s a full breakdown of the brand new APD charges from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, for flights in every band:
Home band
- Diminished charge (lowest class of journey) – £8
- Normal charge (apart from the bottom class of journey) – £16
- Increased charge – £142
Band A (flights from 0 to 2,000 miles)
- Diminished charge – £15
- Normal charge – £32
- Increased charge – £142
Band B (flights from 2,001 to five,500 miles)
- Diminished charge – £102
- Normal charge – £244
- Increased charge – £1,097
Band C (flights greater than 5,500 miles)
- Diminished charge – £106
- Normal charge – £253
- Increased charge – £1,141
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