Airfares from the UK to Australia are set to soar even higher next month, when the Air Passenger Duty – a controversial ‘departure tax’ imposed by the British government on all flights – takes another hike.

As of 1 April 2026 the APD will represent anywhere from $200 to almost $500 of the cost of the long-range flights from the UK.

The tax, which is calculated by both distance and which class passengers travel in, is lowest on domestic flights between two airports in the UK, but quickly rises for overseas trips.

The levy is increasing by a maximum of 15% per person aged over 16, and is forecast to generate a staggering £5.2 billion for the government coffers in 2027.

New APD rates for 2026-2027

Flights of over 5,500 miles from the UK – which includes destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and Asia – will carry an APD of £106 ($200) for passengers in economy, up from £94 ($177) today.

That same ‘reduced economy’ rate applies to premium economy cabins with a seat pitch less than 40 inches; this covers a handful of airlines including Qantas, British Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Cabins with a seat pitch of 40 inches or more will be taxed at the APD ‘standard rate’ of £253 ($477), up from the current £244 ($460).

This of course covers business and first class, but also encompasses more spacious premium economy seats, such as those of Cathay Pacific and Emirates.

(It will also apply to Qantas’ roomier Airbus A350 premium economy on those non-stop Project Sunrise flights from London to Sydney and Melbourne.)

A higher APD tier – unimaginatively called ‘the higher rate’ – applies to private jets and spans from £142 to £1,141 depending on the distance of the flight.

APD rates for the UK and Europe

If you’re darting around the UK, economy tickets will have an APD of £8, with £16 in business class – although with BA’s Club Europe business class being the same seat and pitch as economy, stumping up for the £16 APD will be prety rare.

For flights up to 2,000 miles, which covers pretty much all of Europe, the respective rates are £15 for economy as well as premium economy below a 40" pitch (which includes most ‘EuroBusiness’ offerings) and £32 for seats with a pitch of 40" or higher.

The Air Passenger Duty was introduced in 1994 as an ostensible airline-wide fuel tax of a modest £5-10, depending on distance, and has been climbing ever since.

Although initially promoted as a “green tax”, with revenues to help offset carbon emissions from aviation, it has since become yet another mechanism to bolster general government revenue.

Some canny travellers plan their trip to avoid the APD sting entirely by flying into the UK, but flying out of a nearby European port such as Paris.