Virgin Tickets Slam Air Tax Hikes

Sir Richard Branson's airline Virgin Atlantic is to put a message on all its e-tickets criticising the planned hike in the Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax.

The message will also ask passengers to visit a new website so they can protest to their local MP about the APD increases.

Sir Richard said APD was "one of the most unjust taxes out there" and there was nothing to suggest the £2 billion currently raised was going towards green causes.

APD rates are due to rise in November this year and again in November 2010.

Some of the steepest rises are on flights to the Caribbean, with a Virgin premium economy ticket from Gatwick to Barbados, for example, rising from £80 now to £150 in November 2010.

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