UK Tourists to Pay Higher Air Passenger Duty for European Holidays from April 2026
UK tourists planning trips to popular European Union destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Portugal are being alerted to a significant increase in flight costs starting from Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The Air Passenger Duty (APD) levy will rise, impacting travellers across various fare classes and distances.
New APD Rates and Band Structure Explained
The revised APD structure introduces updated rates across three bands based on flight distance. For domestic flights within the UK, the reduced rate will be £8, the standard rate £16, and the higher rate £142.
Band A, covering distances from 0 to 2,000 miles and including all EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries along with short to mid-haul destinations, will see economy passengers paying £15 instead of the current £13. Those travelling in business, first, or premium economy classes will face a jump from £28 to £32.
Band B, for distances between 2,001 and 5,500 miles encompassing mid and long-haul destinations, will charge economy passengers £102, up from £90, while superior class categories will pay £244 instead of £216.
Band C, for flights over 5,500 miles to destinations not covered in the other bands, will impose a reduced rate of £106, a standard rate of £253, and a higher rate of £1,141.
Industry Criticism and Practical Examples
Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, has strongly criticised the APD increase, labelling it a 'short-sighted cash-grab' that could deter travel and harm the aviation sector.
Dale Robinson of travel insurance specialists Just Travel Cover provided a concrete example to illustrate the impact: 'Essentially, this increase means that from April 1st, air travel is about to get more expensive for most people flying to and from the UK.'
He elaborated: 'As an example, four adults travelling by air from the UK to New York this Easter, in premium economy, will pay £1950 between them in Air Passenger Duty. If they were flying in March of this year, the charge would have been £1730. The same passengers travelling on the same service in April 2027, will pay £2015 in APD, demonstrating the planned rise in the levy in the years to come.'
This adjustment underscores a broader trend of rising travel costs, prompting UK tourists to budget carefully for future holidays to European hotspots.
