Reform UK vows to scrap tax for short-haul family flights

Reform UK has said it would scrap the tax on short-haul flights for adults travelling with children if it wins the next general election.

Speaking from Heathrow Airport in London, the party's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said the move would save £45 for a family of four travelling abroad, and £48 domestically.

The party said the policy would cost £166m per year and would be paid for through savings made by reducing spending on "migrant welfare", mental health benefit claims and foreign aid.

Under Reform's plans, Air Passenger Duty would be abolished for all domestic and short-haul tickets where an adult on an economy ticket is travelling alongside at least one under-18-year-old.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is paid by aircraft operators on flights departing the UK, but the cost is usually passed on to passengers through ticket prices. It does not apply to passengers under 16 on economy flights.

The government's spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, has forecast the tax will bring in £4.6bn for the Treasury in the year 2025-2026.

From Wednesday, the tax is due to go up by £1 for domestic flights, to £8 per flight, and by £2 for short-haul international economy flights, taking the overall cost to £15.

The tax on private jet flights will rise by 50% to between £142 and £1,141, depending on the length of the flight.

Following the war in Iran, the cost of jet fuel has risen sharply, which could push up the price of airline flights.

Announcing Reform's policy, Jenrick said: "This is a time of year where millions of Brits will be going on holiday, catching some sun in Majorca or Tenerife, and millions more will be sat at home over the Easter holidays thinking about booking a family holiday.

"And this year, of all years, that will be a tough decision because household finances are just so tight, and so we want to make it cheaper."

"We don't like taxes on fun," he said, adding: "We are going to find every possible way to lighten the load."

Jenrick said the change would apply to grandparents taking their grandchildren on holiday, as well as school trips.

The party estimated that a family of two adults and two children to Malaga in Spain would save £45 on four tickets costing a combined £196. The party said this was based on one of the children being over 16.

Air Passenger Duty is currently set by the UK government, although it is due to be devolved to Scotland next year.

A Reform UK source said: "If we had a snap election tomorrow, we'd do it nationally. After April next year it will be a question for [Reform UK's leader in Scotland] Malcom Offord."

A Labour spokesperson said Farage had opposed its "fair choice" to bring in a higher increase in APD for private jets.

It added that Labour had a "serious plan" to ease living costs for families, pointing to rises in the national minimum wage, pensions, and its plans to cut energy bills.

Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused Reform of "gimmicks and economic illiteracy," adding that a Reform government "would be an economic catastrophe".

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Olly Glover said the tax "unfairly targets infrequent travellers, such as families going on their summer holidays" and that it needed to change.

"Today though, Reform's slavish loyalty to Donald Trump's illegal war and its impact on oil and gas prices shows once again they will prioritise Trump over the needs of the British people."

Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward said the tax cut was "unfunded" and would "largely help wealthier people".

"A much fairer solution for both people and climate, advocated by the Green Party, is to offer one flight a year at low or zero tax and then apply a frequent flyer levy on any additional flights – a levy that would increase with each extra flight taken in any given year."