UK Air Passenger Duty will increase from April next year, affecting people making long-haul flight connections through the mainland.
The tax is charged on flights departing from the UK or Isle of Man.
The Channel Islands are classified as a ‘Band A’ destination by the UK Government – that means the UK Treasury collects £7 more in tax for each passenger travelling to Guernsey, compared to those on domestic UK routes. Anyone making a further flight to/from the UK will pay the tax again.
According to Aurigny, during the 2024/2025 financial year, the UK claimed £4.19 billion in APD receipts, a 9% increase on the year before.
To help avoid costs when using the UK as a hub for longer flights, Aurigny is suggesting Bailiwick residents use Dublin or Paris instead.
In fact the States owned airline has said that those travelling through Ireland or France could save £253 when travelling in Business Class, or £106 in Economy Class per person.
Philip Saunders, the Chief Commercial Officer at Aurigny, warned the forthcoming increase will add a significant amount to long-haul trip costs if flying through the UK.
“Many people don’t realise that UK Air Passenger Duty is one of the highest departure taxes in the world,” he said.
“Those charges are set to rise again next year, especially for long-haul flights, and they can add a significant amount to the total cost of a trip from the UK to mainland Europe and further afield.
“As Guernsey’s airline, we want to ensure our community is in a position to make informed choices when choosing onward connections. Considering alternatives like Dublin or Paris or using our interline agreements can offer significant savings.”
A spokesperson for the airline added that Aurigny has already seen an increase of 6% in traffic on its Guernsey to Dublin route, and an 30%+ increase in use of its Paris route.