Top News

Economy flights heading to popular holiday destinations including Spain, France, Portugal and Greece will now be hit with a new £15 charge.

Air Passenger Duty rates increased this month from April 1 and this is likely to have a knock-on effect on air fares, meaning pricier tickets for holidaymakers. 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. The tax was first introduced in 1994 to offset the environmental impact of air travel and applies to passengers aged 16 or over travelling on both domestic and international flights.

While APD 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 increase typically means more expensive air fares for UK passengers.

The new APD rates kicked in on April 1 and apply until March 31, 2027, with costs ranging from £8 to a whopping £1,141 per person.

The rates 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.

Explaining the changes this month, the Chartered Institute of Taxation said: "From 1 April, the government is raising Air Passenger Duty rates by 13-15% across all bands and cabin classes, with an additional 50% increase for private jets.

"This will, for example, increase APD on economy travel to £8 per passenger (up from £7) for domestic flights, £15 (up from £13) for short-haul international flights, £102 (up from £90) for medium-haul flights and £106 (up from £94) for long-haul flights. The long-haul rate for private jets rises to £1,141 (up from £673).

"APD rates are set more than a year in advance using forecast RPI inflation. In recent years, actual inflation has turned out to be significantly higher than forecast, so APD has fallen in real terms.

"The April 2026 changes therefore uprate rates by forecast inflation and apply an additional catchup increase to reflect past inflation, as well as reflecting the government's decision to tax users of private jets more highly."

As of April 1, domestic flight charges for economy class now cost £8 (up from £7), while travelling in business class now costs £16 (up from £14).

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 new rates, passengers flying economy to Band A destinations now face a £2 increase, with costs rising from £13 to £15, while those flying business, first or premium economy face a £4 increase, with rates rising from £28 to £32.

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 now face a £102 charge for economy travel (up from £90), while a £244 charge applies to higher classes (up from £216).

Band C applies to destinations over 5,500 miles from the UK, such as Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, with economy rates now set at £106 (up from £94), and premium rates rising from £244 to £253.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts the latest increase will generate £5.2 billion for the exchequer by 2027, compared to £4.6 billion this year.

Listed is a full breakdown of the new APD rates from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, for flights in each band:

Domestic band

• Reduced rate - £8
• Standard rate - £16
• Higher rate - £142

Band A (flights from 0 to 2,000 miles)

• Reduced rate - £15
• Standard rate - £32
• Higher rate - £142

Band B (flights from 2,001 to 5,500 miles)

• Reduced rate - £102
• Standard rate - £244
• Higher rate - £1,097

Band C (flights more than 5,500 miles)

• Reduced rate - £106
• Standard rate - £253
• Higher rate - £1,141