Originally Posted by
lhrsfo
It's a UK duty, so it applies equally to all UK airports. However it is set at higher levels for long haul so, as I understand it if you fly ORD-FRA-LHR the duty is lower than ORD-LHR. It's not an airport duty but an anti-flying duty.
The APD only applies for departures from the UK, not arrivals.
There's also the airport use fee - similar to the $4.50 PFC that is charged in the USA - which is quite high in the UK.
And, yes, prices have gone up, particularly to Western Europe.