1-Sep-2010 12:39 PM
APD increase will sound 'death knell' for premium economy
British Air Transport Association (BATA) CEO Simon Buck stated the UK Government's plans to increase the Air Passenger Duty (APD) in Nov-2010 will be the "death knell" for premium-economy services (Travel Weekly, 31-Aug-2010).
British Air Transport Association: "We're going to see the death knell for premium economy and that would be a real degradation in the level of service for people who can't afford to pay GBP3,000 to go into business class, but who want to pay a modest supplement for premium economy. Are we really going to go back to the time when the only people who could afford to have lots of room on an aircraft were the very wealthy?" Simon Buck, CEO. Source: Travel Weekly, 31-Aug-2010.