VLM warns of rail monopoly as APD climbs
Rising air passenger taxes are a stepping stone to creating a rail monopoly on certain domestic routes, according to London City-based airline VLM.
The carrier’s managing director Johan Vanneste blasted the government’s hiking of APD (it doubled the duty in February 2007) and said the policy could result in carriers pulling out of some domestic air routes.
He said: “Peak time rail fares for journeys between Manchester and London are already higher than those for flights between the cities with VLM Airlines. But imagine what would happen if government moves to increase air taxation forced airlines to discontinue operating domestic services. There would be no alternative should the rail network be disrupted – and, as we know, it frequently does hit problems – and rail operators would not face any competition on pricing.â€
VLM operates seven return services on weekdays between Man chester and London City.
By Dinah Hatch
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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