Virgin Atlantic CEO says UK’s Labour budget is ‘tax on growth’ [Video]

LONDON –  Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss on Monday said the U.K. Labour government’s landmark October budget presented a “tax on growth” due to higher rates placed on the aviation industry.

Weiss said during the Airlines 2024 conference in London that both Labour and the previous Conservative administration had “not done enough to recognize aviation as a strategic asset” for the U.K.

“All we’ve seen is an increase on Air Passenger Duty,” Weiss said. Air Passenger Duty (APD) is levied on airlines and aircraft operators on a per-passenger basis, with rates differing by distance traveled and the cabin class traveled in, and is generally – though not always – passed on to customers in ticket costs.

“I would call [the Budget] a tax on growth,” Weiss said Monday, adding that while it was necessary to cover Britain’s budget deficit, it was also important to recognize the contribution of aviation to the wider U.K. economy.

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