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Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned that the budget airline could cut flights from the UK if Rachel Reeves announces an increase in air passenger duty (APD) in the budget to be announced on November 26. APD is a tax which applies to flights departing from UK airports, although the cost is usually passed onto passengers in the form of higher fares. The tax is expected to rise on April 1, adding up to £2 to the cost of a short-haul economy flight, the Guardian reports. O’Leary said if the APD were to increase gain, airlines such as Ryanair would move their operations from some of the UK’s smaller airports to countries with lower business taxes, such as Sweden and Italy. A Treasury spokesperson told The Guardian: “Unlike other sectors, no VAT applies to plane tickets, and [APD] changes will add just £2 for a family of four flying economy to Spain.” Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE His comments come as Ryanair reported a huge jump in profits for the first half of the financial year. The airport reported a profit after tax of €2.5bn (£2.2bn) in the first half of its financial year, a rise of 42per cent compared with the equivalent period last year. Passenger numbers were up three per cent, with 119 million people flying with the airline. But air fares rose by 13 per cent to €58 on average. O’Leary warned that they are unlikely to fall next year, and hinted that they could increase in the coming years. He said: “Short-haul European air fares … are going to modestly increase for the next four or five years. I think you are going to see, not just in Ryanair but across the airlines, modest price increases through 2027 and 2028.” For more of today's top stories, click here. --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable , highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street . If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
