British travelers have to pay 8 percent higher tax on flights leaving Britain with the new Air Passenger Duty (APD) taking effect on Sunday.

British government announced in the Autumn Statement last year that APD would rise as of April 1, 2012.

For short-haul flights such as to Europe, the tax has increased from 12 pounds to 13 pounds, while for long-haul flights of more than 4,000 miles, it has increased from 85 pounds to 92 pounds.

According to Sky News estimate, the tax on a family of four flying to Spain has gone up from 48 pounds to 52 pounds.

The tax on family holidays in the U.S. or Egypt - which are between 2,000 and 4,000 miles from Britain - has risen from 240 pounds to 260 pounds.

Destinations between 4,000 and 6,000 miles away - including the Caribbean and South Africa - now carry a tax of 324 pounds rather than 300 pounds for four tickets.

The tax on the longest flights of more than 6,000 miles to places like Australia or Argentina will climb to 368 pounds from 340 pounds for a family of four.

"The majority of passengers will only pay an extra one pound as a result of the rise. As announced at the Autumn Statement, we are also extending APD to private business jets for the first time," said a Treasury spokesman.

"The aviation industry will also benefit from the record low corporation tax that takes effect from today," he added.

Meanwhile, the corporation tax in Britain drops by 1 percent to 24 percent also on April 1.