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Flybe chief brands airline tax “unfair”

Flybe
Flybe

An airline chief has claimed that Air Passenger Duty was “constraining growth” in Scotland and must be addressed.

Paul Simmons, Flybe’s chief commercial officer, claimed it was an “unfair” tax because it was not related to the distance people travel.

He said people flying from the UK to Greece paid the same amount as passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Birmingham.

The Scottish Government want responsibility for the tax (APD) to be devolved to Holyrood so it can be reduced and eventually scrapped.

First Minister Alex Salmond said relieving Scotland and the north of England of APD would open up connectively to airports where there is less air space congestion which would boost tourism.

Bosses at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have teamed up to urge the Smith Commission, which is examining what new powers Holyrood should have, to recommended the transfer of APD.

A report, commissioned by the airports in 2012, warned that by 2016 APD would cost the economy up to £210million in lost tourism spend a year.

Mr Simmons said: “Air passenger duty is an unfair tax because it is not related to the distance you travel.

“If you are travelling from the UK over to Greece you are paying the same if you are going down to Birmingham from Edinburgh.

“The Scottish passenger pays more pro-rata in terms of the average trip because they tend to be shorter and you are paying on both ends.

“If you go to Europe you don’t pay on the way back.

“We think it constrains growth in Scotland and does need to be addressed – the logic is very hard to understand.”