A Brent MP is calling for reforms to be made to the air tax she believes unfairly penalises those travelling to the Caribbean.

Sarah Teather, Lib Dem MP for Brent Central, has tabled a parliamentary motion calling on the government to reconsider air taxes on flights to the islands.

She argues that because of the way the tax is calculated, those flying to the Caribbean currently pay more in air passenger duty than those flying longer distances to California or Hawaii.

In the motion Ms Teather urges the government to move to a tax system where tax is paid by airlines based on the distance travelling and on the amount of emissions created.
 
The MP said: “The current system of air tax hits those flying to the Caribbean with a passenger tax that is higher than those travelling to Western America, despite not travelling as far.

“It’s hardly surprising that so many of my constituents with close friends and family in the Caribbean feel that they are being unfairly penalised.

“To make matters even worse, the system fails to provide airlines with any incentive to reduce their negative impact on the environment.

“This is why I’m calling on the Government to change the way air travel is taxed.

“Rather than a system based on unfair and arbitrary bands, flight taxes should be based on distance travelled and the amount of dangerous pollution released.

“This would be better for the environment and fairer to passengers.”