The corporate traveller

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, has commented on the year ahead, in particular with regards to the Emissions Trading Scheme and the imposition of Air Passenger Duty. 

“In 2012 UK airlines and their passengers will face further increases in taxation while the development of the Government’s aviation policy continues at a snail’s pace” said McCall. “Airlines join the European Emissions Trading Scheme in January – undermining still further the imposition of Air Passenger Duty – while APD will itself rise still further in April. Both changes place a further financial burden on British airlines and their passengers while APD will undermine the aviation’s sector’s ability to support UK jobs and economic growth. Meanwhile the Government’s development of a long overdue aviation policy framework continues at a slow pace. As the UK outlines its draft policy this Spring, the Germans are opening a brand new airport in Berlin. The only bright spot for travellers in the South East is the launch of easyJet services from Southend Airport - the first new airport to open in the Southeast for decades, providing much-needed extra capacity.”

easyJet is to trial allocated seating on selected routes from Spring 2012.

Four leading airline chief executives are calling on George Osborne, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, to axe Air Passenger Duty arguing that its negative impact on the UK economy is outweighing any benefit from the revenue raised.

easyJet is taking a further step in its expansion in France with the opening of two new permanent bases in Nice and Toulouse.