Passengers paid more than £3 billion in air passenger duty (APD) last year, according to official figures.

The total of £3.17 billion for the airport departure tax for 2014/15 was 5.2% more than in 2013/14, the HM Revenue and Customs' statistics highlighted by airline body the British Air Transport Association (Bata) showed.

Bata said the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the take from APD will increase by a further £500 million during the next Parliament despite the tax being abolished for under-12s from this Friday and from under-16s from March 2016.

Bata added that by 2019/20, APD was forecast to raise £3.7 billion a year - more than beer and cider duties (£3.6 billion) and the TV licence fee (£3.3 billion).

It said that the total number of passengers paying APD last year was 105.9 million - 1.5 million fewer than the pre-financial crisis peak year of 2007.

However, the amount of revenue raised by APD has increased by more than 70% over the same period.

Bata said the UK had the highest airport tax in Europe by a big margin. Germany had the second-highest air passenger tax in Europe, but it raised just £745 million in 2014. Bata added that most European countries did not tax their citizens or visitors to fly abroad.

Bata chief executive Nathan Stower said: "These new statistics are worrying for anyone who cares about increasing exports, encouraging business growth and investment, and expanding tourism.

"It's time to ask ourselves why our competitors either don't tax air travel at all or do so at significantly lower rates."

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways' parent company IAG, said: "Passengers paid £3.17 billion in APD in 2014/15 - an increase of 824% since its first full year in 1995/96. Over the same period inflation rose by just 82%.

"This tax is completely out of control. It is the highest aviation tax in the world and it damages economic growth and jobs. No wonder the Scottish Government wants to abolish it. APD should be scrapped UK wide."