The chief executive of British Airways has warned that rising aviation taxes and expensive rail travel are making the UK less competitive as a tourist destination, potentially undermining government ambitions to boost economic growth and attract 50 million international visitors annually by 2030.
Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, British Airways CEO Sean Doyle argued that travel costs are discouraging visitors from choosing the UK over competing European destinations.
Doyle said the UK’s aviation tax regime is among the most expensive globally and risks limiting inbound tourism growth at a time when the government is prioritising economic expansion.
“What’s the biggest challenge in the country at the minute? It’s growth,”
Doyle further told reporters.
“If you want to promote tourism and aviation, the last thing you do to encourage that expansion is put the cost of it up.”
Air Passenger Duty Increase Raises Industry Concerns
The comments follow increases to the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), which came into effect in April 2026. Under the revised rates, domestic flight passengers now pay £8 in APD, while travellers departing on European routes pay £15. Long-haul premium economy passengers can face charges of up to £253 per ticket, according to UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Doyle argued that these costs make the UK less attractive compared with other major tourism markets. According to government targets, the UK aims to welcome 50 million international visitors annually by 2030, up from approximately 40 million visitors currently. However, Doyle suggested affordability remains a major obstacle to achieving that goal.
“If you look at France and Spain, they’ve absolutely shot past us,”
he said, pointing to survey data indicating that travel costs play a significant role in destination choice for international visitors. The British Airways chief also highlighted the impact of domestic transport costs, arguing that fragmented rail ticketing systems and limited nationwide tourist travel options make it harder for visitors to explore regions beyond major cities.
Heathrow Expansion Must Remain Affordable, Says BA Chief
Doyle also used the IATA summit to raise concerns about the future expansion of Heathrow Airport. While supporting the government’s commitment to expanding airport capacity, he warned that the proposed third runway project could become counterproductive if airport charges rise significantly as a result.
The current Heathrow expansion proposal is estimated to cost around £33 billion, with airlines including British Airways advocating for a lower-cost alternative. According to Doyle, airlines must balance infrastructure growth with their own fleet investment plans.
“There’s an ambition on infrastructure expansion in Heathrow, but if the cost is too high, the other side of that growth, which is airlines coming in with planes and investing their capital into the sector, that may not come,”
he said. The debate highlights a broader challenge facing UK aviation: how to expand capacity, attract more international visitors and support economic growth while keeping travel affordable for both airlines and passengers.
What do you think about the chief executive of British Airways warnings about aviation takes in the UK? Let us know in the commens below.
