THE Journal’s campaign against an unfair aviation tax on the region has spread across the country.
Major airlines and air industry chiefs throughout the UK have picked up the fight against Air Passenger Duty (APD), first opposed by our ‘Tax too Far’ campaign.
Other regional airports, including Manchester and Bristol, and airlines including British Airways and Easyjet, say they want the upcoming budget to be used to ease the tax burden currently facing the industry.
The united front comes more than a year after The Journal first launched ‘A Tax Too Far’, to draw the government’s attention to the disproportionate impact of APD on regional airports.
Research has shown APD has risen 2600% since it was first introduced in 1994, and is now the highest rate of any country in Europe.
Air bosses from the North East were among the first in the country to speak out against the levy which they say is stifling the growth of wealth at regional airports.
Graeme Mason, director of corporate affairs at Newcastle Airport, congratulated The Journal on leading, where the national media have now followed.
Mr Mason said: “The Journal is to be applauded for being the first regional paper in the UK to highlight this issue.
“It is great to see airlines and other airports have now got on board with what we’ve been doing all along.
“The advantage of this new wave of support is the industry is nor presenting a united front on this issue.
“We can safely say the impact of APD on regional airports is more acute, which is why The Journal has led the way.”
Mr Mason said the lobbying group would look to be effective by bringing together airports, travel agents, and other key industry players together in one alliance.
The Journal’s A Tax Too Far campaign launched on September 21, 2009, with a week of coverage dedicated to raising awareness of the unfair tax.
The national campaign, now following in its footsteps, is being spearheaded by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “It is vital that the Government understands the impact it (aviation tax) is having on the health of the tourism industry in the UK.”