Scottish airports unite to claim APD costs them passengers
Scottish airports are calling for immediate action on APD claiming the aviation tax could cost them more than two million passengers.
The managing directors of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have come together to urge Chancellor George Osborne to conduct a full and thorough review of APD.
The demands follow the publication of a report warning it could cost Scotland more than two million passengers per year by 2016.
The report, commissioned by the three airports, was unveiled at the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Aviation which was held yesterday.
In addition to costing Scotland over two million passengers per annum, the report warns that by 2016 APD will cost the Scottish economy up to £210 million in lost tourism spend per annum.
The UK Government has significantly increased rates and restructured APD since 2007.
Rates for short haul travel have increased by around 160% with long haul rates increasing by between 225% and 360%.
The report also confirms that the UK is out of step with its European counterparts when it comes to aviation tax, with many Governments reducing (Spain, Ireland) or abolishing (Netherlands) APD in order to support their indigenous airlines.
Given its location on the periphery of Europe, Scotland and its economy is particularly reliant on aviation and any loss of connectivity will have a significant impact on the country’s competitiveness it claims.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "Due to the size of the market in Scotland, we will always find it difficult to attain and sustain new routes and this situation is compounded even further by APD which simply serves to artificially depress demand and dissuade airlines from basing aircraft here."
By Diane Evans
Diane
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt