U.K. to again raise the departure tax on premium flyers

The spring budget released this week by the U.K. treasury ministry revealed sharp increases in anticipated air passenger duty collections for premium flyers for the fiscal year that begins April 1, 2025.

The ministry expects to bring in 110 million additional pounds during that year, or about $141 million. The budget document doesn’t detail the planned increase in 2025 on a per-passenger basis, but the Telegraph and other media outlets have reported that the duty will jump that year to 216 pounds ($278) for departing flights from the U.K. to the U.S, a 13% increase over the current duty.

A smaller increase in the air passenger duty will take effect this April 1, with the premium flyer fee increasing 1.6%, to 194 pounds ($250).

The adjustment will account for high inflation in recent years, the ministry said.

The U.K. defines premium flyers as those in seat products that offer at least 40 inches between rows.

Economy flyers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. currently pay an air passenger duty of 87 pounds ($112). The figure will rise to 88 pounds ($113) on April 1 of this year, but it won’t go up in April 2025. The treasury ministry said that freezing the departure fee paid by economy flyers will benefit more than 70% of travelers.