Airport focus on South East is ‘shortsighted’: Flybe

Flybe bosses have said it is ‘shortsighted’ to only focus on the South East for airport capacity development, in its response to the Airport Commission’s latest consultation paper.

The Exeter-based airline outlined how it believes regional connections are vital to the UK economy with routes from smaller airports serving both the leisure and business markets.

It argued the case that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a tax on regions and favours international travel, as the tax on a domestic route is around GBP13 and goes against government plans to develop a balanced economy. The airline also said it believes the tax and the reluctance to expand London’s airports has been the cause for a drop in domestic air passengers.

The response also suggested the Regional Air Connectivity Fund be made permanent until a new runway is built in the south east, and recommended using RAF base Northolt in Ealing as a temporary ‘satellite’ facility for regional services that do not currently have air traffic.

“Flybe hopes that our response will encourage the Commission to make recommendations to the Government in the broader national interest rather than focusing only on the interests of the South East. With 80% of the UK’s GDP generated in the UK regions, an aviation policy that only focuses on the South East and hence only 20 per cent of the country is shortsighted,” said Flybe’s chief executive Saad Hammad. “We trust the Commission will show independence of mind and be bold in setting out some or all of the mechanisms we have proposed to safeguard the needs of those living outside the perimeter of the M25 motorway.”