The Budget

“Universally condemned”.  That was the travel industry view of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s first real Budget last Wednesday (3 March) summed up by a onetime leader of the industry. “No direct support” was the common theme.

Terry Liddiard was for many years number two to Michael Bishop at British Midland and CEO of Manx Airlines before it was scooped up by British Airways.

His big grumble was Air Passenger Duty (APD).  Before the speech there was every indication that the current double whammy would be replaced by a single tax per ticket.  This was not to be.

“Evidence over past years in other countries have shown that the reduction or even abolition of this duty (set at much lower levels than in the UK) has been really successful in stimulating recovery, and yet the Government chooses to do just the reverse at a time when many parts of the industry have gone out of business or have been hanging on by a thread until the recovery comes about – but fully expecting the Government’s strong support in achieving this.”

John Holland-Kaye, CEO Heathrow, said much the same: “The Chancellor talks about protecting jobs and livelihoods, fixing the public finances and laying the foundations for the future economy, and yet he continues to ignore the UK's aviation sector.

He clearly doesn’t understand that all three depend on a strong aviation sector delivering the trade, tourism and investment that power vast parts of the British economy. Failing to even mention aviation, let alone provide full business rates relief for airports in today’s Budget, is a missed opportunity to ensure the sector can play a key role in the country’s economic recovery. The absence of any meaningful support from the Government in the face of tough restrictions which have ground travel to a halt will weaken the sector and limit UK growth at the time it is needed most.”

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Malcolm Marsh, London

Well done Mr Liddiard. I realise that you cannot at present get off the Isle of Man in case they will not let you back but your voice is now required at higher levels. The problem with Zoom is it is too remote.

Alec Smith, Nottingham

You have set out precisely how APD should work if the Chancellor were to revise the tax (unlikely with his mean increase for nurses). A simple ticket levy as a one-off.