British Airways boss blames APD for Caribbean cuts

| 21/09/2011

(Breaking travelnews): British Airways has announced plans to reduce flights to the Caribbean following a sharp rise in Air Passenger Duty. Blaming falling passenger numbers on the punitive tax, BA chief executive, Keith Williams, confirmed the news during the Caribbean Tourism Organisation conference in St Martin. Addressing an industry audience, Williams said: “The Caribbean is an important destination for us and we have a long heritage of serving the region. However, we cannot deny the reality that demand is not as high as it has been. Taxation is most certainly a factor in this and, sadly, a factor in our decision to reduce our frequency to the Caribbean next summer.”

He added: “We continue to protest against the rises in APD and I hope the government’s recent consultation will lead to a more equitable banding system that does not penalise the Caribbean.”

Among the reductions in capacity to the Caribbean, British Airways is expected to cancel its two weekly flights from Gatwick toMontego Bay, Jamaica, next March.

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