31st March 2026
From April 2026, UK travellers will once again see an increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD), the tax applied to all flights departing from UK airports. While often hidden within ticket prices, APD plays a significant role in the overall cost of flying—particularly for long-haul and premium travellers.
At its core, APD is structured around distance and class of travel. Flights are grouped into bands based on how far they travel from London, with long-haul destinations such as the United States falling into Bands B and C. Within each band, passengers pay different rates depending on whether they fly economy, premium economy, business, or first class.
The latest changes, which take effect on 1 April 2026, represent a noticeable increase across most categories. For long-haul economy travellers, the tax rises from around £90-£94 to £102–£106 per passenger. While this may seem modest, the increase becomes more significant in premium cabins, where APD rises to between £244 and £253 per ticket.
For a typical traveller flying from Glasgow to the United States, this translates to an additional £10–£15 in economy class, or closer to £30 in business or first class. Families and frequent flyers will feel this more acutely, with a family of four potentially paying £50 more in tax alone on a long-haul trip.
These changes are part of a broader government strategy to bring APD rates back in line with inflation after several years of relatively smaller increases. The policy also places a heavier burden on higher-emission travel, with the most significant rises affecting long-haul routes and premium cabins. Notably, private jet passengers will see the steepest increases, with some long-haul duties exceeding £1,100 per passenger.
Although APD is technically charged to airlines, it is almost always passed on to consumers in the form of higher ticket prices. As a result, travellers are likely to see these increases reflected directly when booking flights from April 2026 onwards.
For most economy passengers, especially those flying short distances, the impact will be relatively minor. However, for long-haul travellers and those flying in premium cabins, APD is becoming an increasingly significant component of the cost of travel.
Ultimately, while the rise in Air Passenger Duty may not drastically alter travel plans, it reinforces a clear trend: flying from the UK—particularly over long distances—is gradually becoming more expensive.
Estimated APD for Glasgow to USA flights
Flights from Glasgow to the United States fall into:
Band B (2,001-5,500 miles) for places like New York
Band C (5,500+ miles) for West Coast (e.g. Los Angeles)
From April 2026 rates:
Economy (Band B): £102 per passenger
Economy (Band C): £106 per passenger
Premium/business:
Band B: £244
Band C: £253
What that means in real terms
Example 1: Glasgow → New York (Band B)
Economy:
2025: £90
2026: £102
+£12 per ticket
Business class:
2025: £216
2026: £244
+£28 per ticket
Example 2: Glasgow to Los Angeles (Band C)
Economy:
2025: £94
2026: £106
+£12 per ticket
Business class:
2025: £224
2026: £253
+£29 per ticket
Family impact
Family of 4 (economy, USA):
Extra cost ≈ £48 total
Premium/business:
Extra cost ≈ £100-£120 total
Conclusion: noticeable but not huge in economy, much more visible in premium cabins
When do the changes happen?
New APD rates take effect 1 April 2026
This applies to:
Any flight departing the UK on or after that date
APD is updated every year on 1 April.