In a statement, Abta’s head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso noted that the budget had seen “several announcements of specific interest to the travel industry”.

“The chancellor used today’s Budget to reinforce the government’s theme of planning for the future by calling this ‘a Budget for the next generation’,” he said.
 
“While short-haul APD will be frozen, Abta is disappointed that the chancellor used today’s Budget to raise Band B APD by inflation, rather than to address the uncompetitive level of APD overall,” he said.

“With devolution of the tax to Scotland gathering pace, and the Scottish government committed to a forward-looking 50% APD cut, we need urgent action from the treasury to bring APD down across the whole of the country to ensure a competitive, fair rate.”

However D’Alfonso added that Abta welcomed “the significant investment in the UK’s transport infrastructure announced today, especially commitments to progressing HS3 between Leeds and Manchester, and Crossrail 2 in London”.

“Following the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), it is encouraging to see its recommendations being adopted by the government. Abta believes it is imperative that the NIC’s role is firmly established, and maintained, if short-term political wrangling is to be removed from long-term investment decisions; this is a positive start,” D’Alfonso added.
                                                  
“The reduction to business tax bills for many small travel businesses is also good news, as well as further reductions in corporation tax, and the freezing of fuel duty for a sixth consecutive year.”