Aviation Groups Protest UK Air Passenger Duty Change

Aviation groups have protested the UK government’s decision to apply a previously-proposed higher rate of air passenger duty (APD) to aircraft weighing 5.7 metric tons (about 12,570 pounds) or more from April 2027. The tax ruling announced in an annual budget statement on Wednesday is a change in policy since, during a consultation process concluded in January, the government had indicated that the higher rate would apply to aircraft weighing 20 metric tons or higher with fewer than 19 passenger seats.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the Air Charter Association, along with the British Business & General Aviation Association and the Regional & Business Airports Group, said they were disappointed with the widening of the scope for the new tax rate. From April 2027, the highest APD charge per passenger will range from £146.63 (about $190) for a domestic charter flight up to £1,178.20 for a trip longer than 5,500 miles. The new weight threshold will mean the higher rates apply to private jets such as Embraer’s Phenom 300.

The change will be implemented through the pending Finance Bill 2026. The UK government has said it will hold a further technical consultation to allow stakeholders to comment on how the rules will apply.

According to the industry groups, they have provided evidence that the duties—which also apply to airline flights at different rates—will reduce business investment into the UK and curtail improvements in the sustainability of aviation. They said that the new rates are unlikely to increase overall tax raised from the business aviation sector, with the UK Treasury projecting tax income of more than £10 million per annum from when the new rates start to be levied.

Increases of up to 50% in air passenger duty were proposed by the Labour government in October 2024 and are set to take effect from April 2026. Higher rates for private charter flights were originally introduced by the previous Conservative administration in 2013.