SCOTS families are paying £300 more on average to fly between Scotland and England compared to 2005 due to soaring taxes, airlines have claimed.

Four people travelling between the countries three times a year would have an airport passenger duty (APD) bill of £420, compared to a figure of just £120 seven years ago, the parent firm of easyJet, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways has said.

The operators have joined forces to campaign against UK Government plans to increase APD on April 1, with further plans to grow the tax by 46% by 2016.

They claim it would mean a family flying economy class to the Caribbean would pay £440 in taxes, compared to £80 in 2005.

A joint statement from the CEOs of the firms claims the increase would be "job-destroying".

The statement read: "These endless cumulative increases in APD are pricing families out of flying – both from and to the UK.

"That means fewer visitors to the UK, which destroys jobs in our tourism, aviation and hospitality industries, and chokes off opportunities for young people at a time of exceptional youth unemployment."

A Treasury spokesman said: "The majority of passengers will only pay an extra £1 as a result of the rise. Unlike some other European countries, the UK does not levy VAT on domestic flights, and aviation fuel is not taxed.

"The aviation industry will also benefit from the cut in corporation tax."