The scrapping earlier this week of airport departure taxes in the Netherlands is in stark contrast to what is happening in the UK. The Netherlands only introduced the charges - 11.25 euro for European destinations and 45 euro for long-haul destinations – in July 2008 but reversed their decision after a slump in the number of passengers using Amsterdam Schiphol. The U-turn came after canny Dutch passengers jumped across the border to German airports to avoid paying the unpopular charges.

Here in the UK, the opposite is happening. From 1 November, air passenger duty for business class passengers leaving the UK will increase from £20 in Europe and £80 long-haul now to between £22 and £110, depending on how far you are travelling.

The following year, these rates will increase still further - to between £24 and £170. The highest rate will be payable by business passengers travelling to countries whose capital is more than 6,000 miles from London.

Such eye-watering taxes will surely see the number of people flying long-haul on business tumble. The Government has long stated that it sees these increased rates as a way of enforcing environmental policy, allowing it to help achieve its target of cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2050.

Schiphol will be rubbing its hands in anticipation of 1 November. Already, many people from outside the southeast of the UK choose to fly through Amsterdam rather than Heathrow. With these increases, Amsterdam may soon be the airport of choose for everyone in the southeast too.