The UK already has one of the highest air travel departure taxes in the world. But it will go much higher next year, especially for premium flyers.
The spring budget released by the UK Treasury this week showed a sharp increase in projected air passenger duty collections for premium flyers for the financial year starting April 1, 2025.
The Department of Defense expects to bring in an extra 110 million pounds, or about $141 million, that year. The budget document does not detail plans for per-passenger increases in 2025, but the Telegraph and other media outlets have reported that tariffs on flights departing from the UK to the US will rise to 216 pounds ($278) that year. , a 13% increase over current obligations.
Air passenger tariffs will rise slightly from April 1, while premium customer fees will rise by 1.6% to 194 pounds ($250).
The adjustment will account for high inflation in recent years, the Treasury said.
In the UK, premium flyers are defined as seating products that provide at least 40 inches between rows.
Economy flyers traveling from the UK to the US currently pay an air passenger tariff of 87 pounds ($112). That figure will rise to 88 pounds ($113) on April 1 this year, but not until April 2025. The Treasury said freezing departure fees paid by economy flyers would benefit more than 70% of travellers.