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Airlines increase fares to Caribbean just WEEKS after Chancellor announces tax …

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By
Travelmail Reporter


Published:

05:11 EST, 22 April 2014


|
Updated:

05:56 EST, 22 April 2014

Airlines have increase fares to the Caribbean just weeks after Chancellor George Osborne announced Air Passenger Duty on flights to the islands would be reduced.

British Airways confirmed that it has added £10 to ticket prices to six destinations – Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Kingston in Jamaica.

It said the move was ‘in response to market conditions’, but one Caribbean tourist board said it was shocked at the decision.

High-end holiday: BA has increased its fares on flights to Caribbean islands including Barbados

High-end holiday: BA has increased its fares on flights to Caribbean islands including Barbados

A Caribbean specialist operator described the move as ‘disappointing’ so soon after the reduction in air passenger duty.

The operator, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘We’ve had no notification of an increase in this manner for any other region of the world.’

Virgin Atlantic is believed to have followed the move with a £10 increase on some Caribbean routes, with immediate effect, although it refused to confirm the rise, saying only that decisions regarding pricing were commercially sensitive.

BA said fares to its other Caribbean destinations, Punta Cana, St Kitts and Nevis and the Port of Spain remained unchanged.

Fare rise: BA's increase comes just weeks after the Chancellor announced a reduction in APD

Fare rise: BA’s increase comes just weeks after the Chancellor announced a reduction in APD

A spokesman for the airline said that
even with the increase, low-season fares to the Caribbean were ‘well
below’ the levels of two years ago.

However, the Caribbean tourist industry expressed dismay at the increase so soon after the Chancellor announced that APD on flights to the islands would be reduced to the same level as to the US.

One Caribbean tourist board member said: ‘I can’t believe BA is doing this so soon.’

In last month’s Budget, the Chancellor announced that all long-haul passengers would pay the same tax as those flying to the US from April 1, which represents a saving of £64 for a family of four flying to the Caribbean.

He admitted the current system, calculated according to the distance between London and the destination country’s capital city, was ‘crazy and unjust’.

Budget 2014: Chancellor George Osborne outside Number 11 Downing Street this morning

Budget 2014: Chancellor George Osborne outside Number 11 Downing Street this morning

Elizabeth Fox, Jamaica Tourist Board regional director for UK and Northern Europe, told industry website TravelMole: ‘Following the recent APD victory for the Caribbean, it seems a real shame that BA and Virgin are looking to increase fares to destinations in the West Indies like Jamaica. 

‘Fares have been known to go up at this time of year, but it seems that the Caribbean is being singled out when other destinations are not being targeted for an increase. 

‘Just when travel agents had some good news to share with value-driven British travellers wishing to head to our beautiful region, the cost-saving message of not being charged extra for travel to our islands is being snatched away again.’


Comments (39)

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KitKat,

Edinburgh, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

‘In response to market conditions’ – no, it’s more a case of what the airlines can get away with. Adding an extra fiver or tenner here or there all adds up to nothing but more profit for the airlines. It is just plain greed.

Andy,

Chelmsford, United Kingdom,

8 hours ago

Reduced tax on holidays to the Caribbean? Sounds like the rich just got taxed less. How about reducing the tax to take a Ryanair flight to Spain to help us peasants!!

Pixie Love,

LONDON, United Kingdom,

7 hours ago

The rich aren’t the only people who go to the Caribbean..
I think the whole idea of a reduced tax was intended on people being able to go back home to visit their families. A flight to Jamaica alone can cost £600 that isnt fair. Then you got Spain which goes as cheap as £39, if i had family there I’d be there all the time. How cheap do you want it!!

Phil,

Essex,

13 hours ago

For many reasons. Buy a ticket to Europe on the Eurostar. Leave on your long haul holidays from there. Airports are clean, airlines cheap, taxes often nil and the war on terror is polite to you.

bluesman,

Redditch,

21 hours ago

So Government makes it more advantageous to the airlines, reducing cost and they put prices up?

Capitalist greed in perfect action.

Jaye,

New York, United States,

22 hours ago

Oh well. Its worth the warm sun and spiced rum.

OMG,

Bucks, United Kingdom,

22 hours ago

BA the last airline i would choose and I’m British!!

Able Archer,

Banbury, United Kingdom,

23 hours ago

Greedy b#@#@##@!

Rob,

Devon, United Kingdom,

23 hours ago

Yes its certainly in response to market conditions, and in this case it’s pure greed.

Watcher with a Pie,

Oop North, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

I for one do not care as this is yet another tax cut for the richest in society. He should have reduced all air taxes by the same amount but I suppose that wouldn’t please his millionaire pals.

Vervica Recai,

castries, Saint Lucia,

1 day ago

Thank God I live on St. Lucia already. Flying is a gamble both your life and your wallet.

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