UK Private Jet Tax Changes from 2027

The UK Policy Update

Higher APD will apply to more private jets from 2027

In Budget 2025, the UK government announced a change to how Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to private aviation. From 1 April 2027, the higher rate of APD is planned to apply to all private jets with a maximum take-off weight above 5.7 tonnes.

Air Passenger Duty is a tax charged per passenger on flights departing from UK airports. The Budget 2025 announcement does not introduce a new tax. Instead, it expands the scope of an existing higher-rate framework so that it captures a wider range of private jets based on aircraft weight.

Private jets below the 5.7 tonne threshold are not included in this specific expansion.

Practical Implications for Frequent UK Flyers

For travellers who regularly depart the UK on private flights, the change affects cost exposure over time, rather than how flights are operated day to day.

APD does not apply to arrivals into the UK, but repeated departures can accumulate significant tax charges, particularly for programmes built around heavier aircraft categories. From 2027 onwards, aircraft weight will therefore play a more visible role in how exposed a private flying programme is to UK departure taxes.

For frequent flyers, this adds a regulatory dimension to aircraft selection alongside more familiar considerations such as range, cabin size and availability.

Is This Limited to the UK?

The UK is currently the clearest example of a weight-based expansion of private jet taxation with a defined threshold and implementation date.

However, it is not the only country reviewing how private aviation is taxed. The Netherlands has announced plans to increase flight taxes and apply higher charges to private jets from 2030. In other European countries, private aviation continues to feature in political and policy discussions around environmental charges and aviation taxation, although approaches vary and no common model exists.

The broader pattern is that regulation affecting private aviation is evolving, and aircraft category is becoming a more prominent factor in how taxes may be applied.

How GlobeAir Fits Into This Context

GlobeAir operates very light jets, including the Cessna Citation Mustang and the Cessna Citation M2. Both aircraft types sit below the 5.7 tonne threshold referenced in the UK’s announced APD scope expansion.

As a result, GlobeAir flights departing the UK are not captured by the specific change planned for heavier private jets from 2027. This does not remove Air Passenger Duty entirely, nor does it guarantee future treatment, but it illustrates how lighter aircraft categories can be less exposed to certain weight-based regulatory measures.

GlobeAir provides access to these aircraft through on-demand charter, Jet Card programmes and fractional ownership, allowing clients to select the structure that best fits their travel patterns.

Key Takeaway

When evaluating private aviation options, pricing, availability and service quality remain central. The UK APD update introduces an additional consideration for frequent UK flyers:
the weight category of the aircraft and how it may affect exposure to future tax changes.

In a regulatory environment that continues to evolve, lighter aircraft platforms can offer greater resilience alongside operational flexibility.

Compliance Note

This article is for information only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on legislation and individual circumstances.