Does APD apply to connecting flights?

APD applies to each chargeable departure from a UK airport. However, if you connect through a UK airport as part of a single ticket journey, you may only be charged once. Direct transit passengers who do not clear UK immigration are generally not charged APD.

What is the APD domestic reduced rate?

For domestic UK flights (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands to England, and between any UK airports), a reduced APD rate applies. For 2025/26, the domestic reduced rate is £7 for economy and £14 for higher classes. The reduced rate aims to avoid penalising connectivity within the UK.

What is the difference between economy and business class APD?

The higher rate (business/first class) is charged when the seat pitch in the highest class on the aircraft exceeds 1.016 metres (40 inches). If the seat pitch in the highest on-board class is 1.016m or less, all passengers pay the reduced/standard rate, even in business class.

Does APD apply to freight aircraft?

No. APD applies only to passengers on commercial flights. Pure cargo aircraft with no fare-paying passengers are not subject to APD.

Is APD included in the advertised flight price?

Under UK consumer protection rules, airlines and travel agents must display all-inclusive prices. APD should be included in the total price shown when you search for and book flights, within the tax and charges breakdown.

What is the APD rate for premium economy?

Premium economy is treated like economy for APD purposes unless the aircraft's highest class has a seat pitch over 1.016m. On most aircraft where the highest class is business or first, premium economy passengers pay the standard (reduced) rate alongside economy passengers.

How does the APD band work for island destinations?

For countries with multiple islands (such as the Caribbean), the APD band is based on the distance to the main capital city, not the specific island destination. For example, all Caribbean destinations are assessed based on their respective capital cities, which are all over 2,000 miles away — placing them in Band B.

Are helicopter flights subject to APD?

Helicopter flights used for commercial passenger transport from UK airports are generally subject to APD. However, helicopter flights to offshore oil or gas installations are exempt, as are air ambulance services and flights within the UK's Scottish Highlands and Islands which may qualify for special treatment.

What is the APD rate for flights to Scotland?

Domestic flights within the UK, including flights to and from Scotland, are charged at the domestic reduced rate: £7 economy, £14 business class for 2025/26. Scotland's devolved government has proposed replacing APD with its own Air Departure Tax, but legislation has been delayed.

What is the total APD for a family of four flying to Florida?

Florida is in Band B (over 2,000 miles). In economy, APD is £88 per adult passenger. For a family of four adults, APD on the outbound flight would be 4 × £88 = £352. For a return trip with two UK departures, the total APD would be £704. Children under 2 on laps are exempt.

How does APD affect UK holiday prices compared to EU competitors?

UK APD makes long-haul flights from UK airports notably more expensive than from EU hubs. A family of four flying economy to the US pays £352 in APD versus zero or minimal aviation tax from Frankfurt or Amsterdam. This affects the competitiveness of UK airports for long-haul routes.

Are flights to the Channel Islands subject to APD?

Flights from UK mainland airports to the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey) are subject to APD at domestic rates. The Channel Islands are not part of the UK VAT area but are considered within the domestic APD zone for these purposes.

What happens to APD if I am involuntarily downgraded by the airline?

If you paid for a higher class ticket but are downgraded by the airline, you are entitled to a refund of the difference in APD (from higher to standard rate) in addition to any compensation under your passenger rights. Contact the airline's customer service to reclaim the APD difference.

How often do APD rates change?

APD rates are typically revised each April (the start of the new tax year) and are announced at the UK Budget. Rates have generally increased with RPI inflation over recent years, though freeze periods have occurred. Check HMRC's current rates before budgeting for travel.

Is APD the same as a carbon tax?

APD is a revenue-raising tax, not strictly a carbon or environmental tax. Although the government uses environmental arguments to justify high APD rates, the revenue goes to the general Exchequer rather than being ring-fenced for environmental or aviation decarbonisation programmes.

Do connecting passengers at UK airports pay APD?

APD applies to chargeable passengers departing from UK airports. If you arrive at a UK airport and immediately connect to another flight under the same booking, you may only be charged APD once. True transit passengers who never clear UK immigration are generally exempt from the second APD charge.

What exemptions exist from APD?

Exemptions from APD include: children under 2 on laps; passengers on qualifying air ambulance flights; certain flights within Scottish Highlands and Islands; crew members when travelling in that capacity; and transit passengers not clearing UK immigration.

How do airlines report and pay APD to HMRC?

Airlines register with HMRC as APD operators and submit quarterly returns. They pay APD on chargeable passengers departing in each quarter. Airlines bear the legal liability for APD, though they recover it through ticket prices. HMRC conducts audits to verify passenger numbers and rate classifications.

What is the APD for a business class flight to New York?

New York is in APD Band B (over 2,000 miles). Business class APD for 2025/26 is £176 per passenger per chargeable departure. On a return trip from a UK airport to New York, only the UK departure is subject to APD, so total APD would be £176 per person one-way.

Does the calculator include both outbound and return APD?

Yes. APD only applies when departing from a UK airport. The calculator above shows APD for the outbound flight (one departure) and the total for a return trip (two UK departures). If your return flight departs from a non-UK airport, only the outbound UK departure is subject to APD.

What is the APD rate for a domestic flight in Scotland?

For internal Scottish flights or flights between Scotland and other UK regions, the domestic reduced rate applies: £7 per passenger in economy, £14 in business/first class for 2025/26. Scotland is classified as a domestic destination for APD purposes.

Is APD charged on charter flights?

Yes. APD applies to passengers on charter flights departing from UK airports, at the same rates as scheduled commercial flights. The charter airline is the registered APD operator and pays HMRC quarterly, recovering the cost through the holiday package price.

What is the impact of APD on UK tourism?

Research by airlines and tourism bodies suggests APD suppresses international travel demand, particularly for long-haul leisure travel where price sensitivity is high. Scotland and Northern Ireland have historically sought to reduce APD to boost inbound tourism and compete with nearby international airports.

Are flights to EU countries after Brexit still in Band A?

Yes. APD bands are based on geographical distance, not EU membership. European destinations with capital cities within 2,000 miles of London remain in Band A regardless of Brexit or trade arrangements. The band structure is purely distance-based.

What is the APD for a group of 10 flying economy to Spain?

Spain is in Band A (under 2,000 miles). Economy APD is £16 per passenger. For a group of 10, APD on the outbound UK flight would be 10 × £16 = £160. For a full return trip (assuming both legs depart from the UK), total APD would be £320.

How does APD affect business travel decisions?

For frequent business travellers on long-haul routes in premium cabins, APD represents a significant cost. A business traveller making 20 long-haul business class trips per year pays 20 × £176 = £3,520 in APD alone. Many UK businesses factor APD into their corporate travel budgets and policy decisions.

What is the APD for a first class flight to Australia?

Australia is in Band B. Business/first class APD is £176 per passenger per chargeable UK departure for 2025/26. As only the UK departure is subject to APD (not the return from Sydney), a one-way first class departure from London to Sydney incurs £176 in APD.

Are low-cost carrier passengers charged the same APD as full-service carriers?

Yes. APD rates are the same regardless of the airline type. Economy passengers on low-cost carriers pay exactly the same APD as economy passengers on full-service carriers for the same route and class. APD is a passenger-based tax, not an airline-based tax.

What is the APD band for Dubai?

Dubai's capital is Abu Dhabi (UAE), which is approximately 3,400 miles from London. The UAE is therefore in APD Band B (over 2,000 miles). Economy APD is £88 and business class APD is £176 per passenger per UK departure for 2025/26.

Does APD apply if I depart from a non-UK airport?

No. APD only applies to flights departing from UK airports. If you begin your journey from Paris, Amsterdam, or any non-UK airport, no UK APD is charged regardless of your destination. UK APD is a departure tax, not an arrival or destination tax.

What is the reduced rate seat pitch threshold for APD?

The higher APD rate applies to passengers in any aircraft where the seat pitch in the aircraft's highest class exceeds 1.016 metres (approximately 40 inches). If all seats on the aircraft have a pitch of 1.016m or less, all passengers pay the standard (reduced) rate, including those in higher-class seats.

How much APD revenue does HMRC collect each year?

HMRC collects approximately £3.5–4 billion in APD annually (pre-pandemic figures). The revenue declined sharply during COVID-19 travel restrictions and has recovered as air travel returned to normal. APD is one of the largest environmental taxes by revenue in the UK.

Can I check the exact APD rate before booking?

Yes. HMRC publishes current APD rates on GOV.UK under 'Air Passenger Duty rates'. Airlines also display the APD element separately in the tax and charges breakdown when you book. You can use the calculator above for a quick estimate before booking.

What is the APD rate for a flight to Cyprus?

Cyprus (capital Nicosia) is approximately 2,150 miles from London, placing it in APD Band B (over 2,000 miles). Economy APD is therefore £88 and business class APD is £176 per passenger per UK departure for 2025/26.

Are airline staff exempt from APD?

Cabin crew and pilots travelling in their working capacity (deadheading or positioning) on commercial aircraft are generally exempt from APD. Airline staff travelling as fare-paying leisure passengers are subject to APD at the applicable rate.

Does APD apply to flights from Gibraltar?

Gibraltar has its own Government and is not subject to UK APD. Flights departing from Gibraltar Airport are not subject to UK Air Passenger Duty. However, if you fly from a UK airport to Gibraltar, APD is charged on the UK departure.

What is the APD for a premium economy flight to Bangkok?

Bangkok (Thailand) is in Band B (over 2,000 miles from London). Premium economy is typically taxed at the standard economy rate unless the aircraft's highest class seat pitch exceeds 40 inches — in which case it may be treated as the higher rate. For 2025/26, assuming standard rate, APD is £88 per passenger per UK departure.

Can airlines claim APD back for empty seats?

APD is charged on chargeable passengers, not seats. Empty seats do not attract APD. Airlines pay APD based on the number of fare-paying passengers who actually depart, not the aircraft's capacity. Accurate passenger manifests are essential for correct APD accounting.

What is the history of APD in the UK?

APD was introduced in 1994 at £5 (short-haul) and £10 (long-haul) per passenger. It has been increased many times since. The banding system was reformed in 2015 from four bands to two (A and B). Private jet rates were introduced in 2023. APD has become a politically contentious tax, with airline industry groups regularly calling for its abolition.

What is the APD for a private jet to Paris?

Paris is in Band A (under 2,000 miles). Private jet APD for Band A is £92 per passenger for 2025/26. If a private jet carries 8 passengers from London to Paris, total APD would be 8 × £92 = £736 for the group on the outbound leg.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) Calculator 2025/26

Q: What is the APD rate for private jets?

Private jet passengers (travelling in aircraft with fewer than 19 seats and a maximum weight over 5,700kg) are charged at the higher rate: Band A £92 per passenger and Band B £616 per passenger for 2025/26. These rates reflect the higher environmental impact per passenger.

Calculate Air Passenger Duty on UK flights. Find the exact duty per passenger for economy, business, first class or private jet travel.

APD Calculator — 2025/26 Rates

Destination band

Travel class

Number of passengers

APD per person

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Total APD (group)

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Return trip total

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Return trip assumes both outbound and inbound flights depart from UK airports. APD applies only to UK departures. Children under 2 on laps are exempt.

2025/26 APD Rates at a Glance

Band	Economy / Premium Economy	Business / First Class	Private Jet
Domestic (UK)	£7	£14	£14
Band A (≤2,000 miles)	£16	£32	£92
Band B (>2,000 miles)	£88	£176	£616

What Is Air Passenger Duty?

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a UK government tax charged on each passenger departing from a UK airport on a commercial or private aircraft. It is one of the highest aviation passenger taxes in the world. APD is paid by the airline to HMRC and passed on to passengers as part of the ticket price.

The rate depends on two factors: the distance to the destination country's capital city from London, and the class of travel. Since 2015, there are two distance bands. Band A covers destinations with a capital within 2,000 miles of London (most of Europe, Turkey, North Africa, Middle Eastern states). Band B covers all destinations beyond 2,000 miles — the USA, Caribbean, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Far East.

APD applies only to passengers departing from UK airports. Inbound flights to the UK are not subject to APD. On a return trip, APD is charged only on the UK outbound leg unless the return flight also departs from a UK airport (e.g. a domestic connection).

Band A vs Band B Destinations

Popular Band A destinations include all EU countries, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Popular Band B destinations include the United States, Canada, all Caribbean islands, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

Note that some destinations may feel geographically close but are classified by APD based on their capital city's distance from London. Cyprus is assessed based on Nicosia (~2,150 miles) — placing it in Band B despite being a popular short-haul holiday destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a UK tax charged on passengers departing from UK airports on commercial flights. It is one of the highest aviation taxes in the world. The rate depends on the distance to the destination country's capital city and the class of travel.

For 2025/26: Domestic (reduced rate) economy £7, business £14. Band A (up to 2,000 miles) economy £16, business £32. Band B (over 2,000 miles) economy £88, business £176. Private jets: Band A £92, Band B £616 per passenger.

Band A covers countries with a capital city within 2,000 miles of London, including most of Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia), Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and parts of the Middle East.

Band B covers destinations with a capital city more than 2,000 miles from London. This includes the USA, Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Asia and the Pacific.

Children under 2 years old who do not occupy their own seat (lap infants) are exempt from APD. Children under 2 who occupy their own seat are charged at the reduced (economy) rate. Children aged 2 and over pay APD at the standard rate for their class of travel.

Technically the airline pays APD to HMRC, but the cost is passed on to passengers as part of the ticket price. Airlines include APD in the tax and charges breakdown shown when you book a flight.

APD applies to each departure from a UK airport. On a return trip, APD is charged on the outbound leg (departing from the UK). Inbound flights landing in the UK do not attract APD. For a return from London to New York, APD is charged only on the London departure.

Private jet passengers are charged at the higher rate: Band A £92 per passenger and Band B £616 per passenger for 2025/26. These rates reflect the higher environmental impact per passenger on private jets.

If your flight is cancelled and you do not travel, the airline should refund the APD component of your ticket. Under UK consumer protection rules, airlines must refund taxes including APD for unused tickets, even if the base fare is non-refundable.

The higher rate (business/first class) is charged when the seat pitch in the highest class on the aircraft exceeds 1.016 metres (40 inches). If all seats on the aircraft have a pitch of 1.016m or less, all passengers pay the reduced/standard rate.

Northern Ireland has lower APD rates for Band A to compete with cross-border competition from Dublin Airport. Domestic flights to Great Britain use the reduced domestic rate. Check HMRC guidance for current Northern Ireland-specific rates.

UK APD is widely considered the highest aviation tax in the world. Long-haul business class APD at £176 per person each way is a significant additional cost. Many competing aviation hubs (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai) have no equivalent tax or much lower rates.

Official Sources

GOV.UK — UK Government Services and Information

Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.

Understanding Air Passenger Duty in Detail

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is an excise duty levied by HM Revenue and Customs on passenger flights departing from UK airports. Introduced in 1994 at a flat rate of just £5, it has grown into one of the highest aviation taxes in the world and a significant source of government revenue, raising approximately £3.8 billion per year. The duty is collected from the airline, but its cost is nearly always passed on to passengers through ticket prices, which is why your final fare shows a separate "taxes and charges" line containing APD plus airport passenger service charges.

APD is charged per passenger on the first leg of a journey that begins at a UK airport. Transit and transfer passengers are generally exempt provided the connection is made within 24 hours and on a single ticket. Children under 16 travelling in the lowest class of travel are exempt from all APD bands, a concession introduced in 2015. Infants under two without their own seat have always been exempt. Flights departing from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands are also outside the scope of the duty, reflecting the fact that air travel is often the only practical transport option for island communities.

The rate you pay depends on two factors: the destination band and the class of travel. There are now four bands for 2025/26: Domestic (flights entirely within the UK), Band A (destinations whose capital city is up to 2,000 miles from London), Band B (2,001 to 5,500 miles) and Band C (over 5,500 miles, introduced in April 2023). Within each band there are three travel classes: reduced rate (the lowest class available on the aircraft, typically economy), standard rate (any higher class including premium economy, business and first) and a higher rate that applies to private jets with a take-off weight above 20 tonnes and fewer than 19 seats. For 2025/26 the standard rate on a long-haul Band B flight in business class is £224 per passenger, while a first class ticket in Band C now carries a staggering £607 duty.

How to Reduce the APD You Pay

While APD is unavoidable on UK departures, there are a few legitimate ways to minimise it. Booking a connection from a non-UK airport (for example flying Manchester-Amsterdam-New York instead of Manchester-New York direct) means the long-haul leg starts outside the UK and only the short European leg attracts UK APD. Travelling in economy rather than business class roughly halves the duty in Band A and reduces it substantially in longer bands. Families travelling with children should ensure they are booked in the lowest class of travel so the under-16 exemption applies. Finally, if you genuinely live or frequently travel to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, using eligible airports avoids APD entirely. Our calculator above shows you exactly what you will pay for any combination of band, class and passenger count so you can compare options before booking.