Overview
- Air Passenger Duty, which increases Wednesday, raises the per-passenger tax on UK departures by distance band and cabin and has prompted booking warnings to lock in tickets before the change.
- The new rates set economy/premium at £8/£16 for UK domestic, £15/£32 for Band A, £102/£244 for Band B, and £106/£253 for Band C, replacing the lower 2025–26 schedule.
- Travel expert Simon Calder says families and premium cabins will feel the sharpest rise, with a family of four flying premium economy to Orlando expected to pay over £1,000 in APD by summer 2027.
- Children under 16 do not pay APD in basic economy, but all passengers aged two and above owe the duty in premium cabins, which can lift the total for group trips.
- The Office for Budget Responsibility projects receipts rising to about £5.2bn in 2027 and £5.6bn by March 2028 as carriers embed the higher charge, and travelers may cut APD by starting long-haul trips via a nearby European hub or by claiming a refund if they do not fly.