Flight prices to jump as regional airports hit by rocketing tax bills
Air passengers are being warned to brace for ticket hikes as regional airports across the UK face “unprecedented” rises in property tax next year.
Regional airports are among the sectors facing the steepest increases in business rates in the UK amid an overhaul of property valuations underpinning the tax.
While London’s Heathrow and Gatwick are also being hit with eye-watering increases in their business rates bills, the figures show that the most extreme cases are focused outside of London, with regional airports set to suffer.
Business rates drive inflation
Ever since the government announced changes to the business rates regime last year, businesses have repeatedly warned that upcoming changes could damage confidence.
The pubs sector has been particularly vocal. As a result, Rachel Reeves has confirmed temporary support for pubs in a climbdown from the Treasury’s previous position.
Reeves told reporters at the World Economic Forum last Wednesday: “The situation the pubs face is different from other parts of the hospitality sector but we will be setting out the detail in the next few days.”
Global tax firm Ryan’s calculation of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) data found that the rateable values have jumped more than six-fold in some cases in the latest property revaluation, sending tax bills soaring higher.
Even with so-called transitional relief, which limits increases to 30 per cent next year, regional airports will still endure some of the largest cash increases in the country.
And most airports will see their bills more than double over the next three years.
Tax bills to rocket
Manchester Airport is among the worst affected, with its business rates bill set to surge by £4.2m to £18.1m next year, according to Ryan’s data.
Bristol Airport will see a £1.2m increase to £5.2m, while Birmingham International Airport is expected to see a £1.8m hike to £7.6m.
Newcastle International Airport is in line for a £244,755 hike to £1.1m.
Alex Probyn, practice leader for Europe and Asia-Pacific property tax at Ryan, told PA: “With an unprecedented 295 per cent sector-wide uplift, regional airports simply cannot absorb a cost shock of this magnitude.
“These increases will inevitably flow through the system: first into airport charges, then into airline costs, and ultimately into ticket prices.”
Airport operators have warned the tax blow may also hold back investment in the sector.
A Manchester Airports Group spokesperson said: “Airports were already some of the highest rates-payers in the country and were prepared to pay significantly more.
“But increases of more than 100 per cent mean we have to look again at our plans to invest more than £2bn in our airports across the UK over the next five years.
“It is inevitable air travel will become more expensive as the industry absorbs these costs. That impacts hard-working people throughout the country and makes global trade harder for businesses.”
Ticket prices to rise
AirportsUK – the trade group representing the sector – is working on a response to the Treasury’s consultation on the business rates plan, which closes in February.
It said the plans are “short-sighted” and will “have a knock-on effect for the businesses that depend on airport connectivity in all areas of England”.
This risks “negatively impacting local economies that depend on the supply chains, tourists and connections their airports provide”, according to the group.
“That is why the long-term review into how airport business rates are calculated, also announced by government, is so important and we will engage with Treasury to ensure this delivers the positive outcome airports need to drive investment and economic growth.”
Other regional airports heading for mammoth bill increases include Liverpool Airport with a £233,100 rise to £1m, East Midlands International Airport with a £437,895 increase to £1.9m, and Bournemouth Airport with a £102,398 increase to £443,723.