Airport News
Airport head calls to axe tax
Wed, 10 Jun, 2009
An aviation chief has called on the government to abandon new airport taxes.
David Laws, chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, told the North East Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting that he feared the effect the new tax would have on the institution, which has a workforce of around 3,000 people.
According to nebusiness.co.uk, he identified new airport taxes as the greatest danger facing the sector's future.
Travellers on long-haul journeys could pay £20 more and all routes would become more expensive.
Mr Laws cited the Netherlands as an example where the tax had been abandoned once it was realised how detrimental an effect it would have on Schiphol Airport.
In March, Newcastle Airport reduced the prices of airport parking for stays of one week, though the deadline for booking has now expired.
At the time, business manager George Nesbitt said he hoped that the move would help people to take affordable breaks when flying from the airport.