BA CEO Sean Doyle Warns UK Aviation Taxes Are Choking Tourism Growth

The Guardian reported Sunday that British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle used a major global airline summit to warn that punishing travel costs are undermining UK economic growth. Doyle made the remarks at the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

UK Falling Behind France and Spain on Tourism Growth

Doyle argued that aviation taxes UK tourism potential directly, pointing to rivals France and Spain as countries that have surged ahead on visitor numbers. The UK currently attracts roughly 40 million international tourists per year. The government has set a target of 50 million annual visitors by 2030. Doyle said that goal is unreachable without meaningful cuts to travel costs.

He noted that air passenger duty was raised by 15% as recently as April. That pushed charges to £15 per passenger on European departures and as high as £253 on long-haul premium seats. For a family of five, he said, those cumulative charges represent a steep penalty compared to equivalent levies elsewhere in Europe.

Also Read: What Is Air Passenger Duty and Who Pays It?

A Fragmented Network Concentrating Tourism in Two Cities

Beyond ticket taxes, Doyle pointed to the UK’s rail network as a separate drag on visitor distribution. He described ticketing as fragmented and lacking the kind of integrated pass systems common in competitor markets. Without coherent overland travel options, tourists default to a handful of well-connected cities. London and Edinburgh absorb most visitor spending while the rest of the country sees little economic benefit, he said.

His argument mirrors a broader structural critique. Demand aggregates where infrastructure is reliable and fares are clear, leaving secondary cities and regions behind.

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Heathrow Expansion Carries Its Own Risks

Doyle also raised concerns about the government’s preferred £33 billion plan for a third runway at Heathrow. He acknowledged political support for the project but cautioned that excessive construction costs could deter airlines from committing capital. If airport charges rise too steeply to fund the expansion, the airlines that would otherwise bring new routes and aircraft investment may pull back instead.

BA and fellow carriers have lobbied for a cheaper alternative runway scheme. Doyle’s position at the Rio summit signals that airline support for Heathrow expansion is conditional, not guaranteed.

Growth policy, he said, should remove barriers rather than add them. Higher travel costs, he argued, do exactly the opposite.

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