Manchester calls for lower taxes for regions
Manchester Airport has launched a new campaign to persuade the government to introduce lower air taxes for flights from regional airports than from London.
It is urging passengers to write to the Chancellor George Osborne asking for a regionalised taxation system.
The Chancellor announced a consultation on air passenger duty in his March Budget and Manchester Airport is asking passengers to respond before the deadline this Friday.
It will be giving customers pre-written postcards asking the Chancellor to consider a lowwer level of APD for airports like Manchester, which can be posted in special mail boxes installed in Terminals 1 and 2.
The airport’s external affairs director Jonathan Bailey said: “This is the last chance for passengers to have their say on the proposed changes that could seriously affect their future holidays and business trips.
"Many UK travellers are unaware that they pay the highest levels of flight tax in Europe but they have an opportunity to have their say and make their voice heard to Government.
"We are asking our passengers to show their support and help convince the Government that a regionalised tax system could work in the long term and provide a stronger aviation industry for the UK.”
Bailey said passengers flying from regional airports tended to be more price sensitive than those travelling from London, which can make regional airports less attractive to airlines.
"The Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has had a concern that additional price rises might discourage airlines from developing new routes from regional airports that businesses in the north require," he added.
Earlier this year, Manchester Airport lent its support to ABTA’s ‘A Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign and joined an alliance of more than 25 airlines, airports, tour operators, destinations and trade associations who were uniting to call on the Government to make the system of aviation tax in the UK fairer.
That helped to raise awareness of the current system amongst UK travellers and saw the issue of a regionalised system of tax being mentioned in the Treasury’s subsequent consultation on the current system.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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