Airline boss backs London flights

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), March 12, 2008

A CUT-price airline has moved to reassure passengers the region's links with London with not disappear.

Airport bosses hit out after learning landing prices in the capital were set to soar because of a ruling by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The CAA price formula means, taking annual inflation into account, airlines could be paying nearly twice as much in landing charges at Heathrow in five years' time and around 50% more at Gatwick.

Chiefs at Newcastle International Airport released a statement saying this could threaten regional routes, as carriers will be forced to fill heir slots with more profitable long-haul flights.

Budget airline Flybe, which is set to take over flights between Newcastle and Gatwick on March 30, has moved quickly to tell customers that route is not under threat.

Geordie chief commercial officer Mike Rutter told the Chronicle: "We are 100% committed to the Newcastle to Gatwick route, but we feel this is a tax on regional travelling.

"We are incensed abut the size of the increase. It does make things difficult for regional carriers, but we will overcome it."

The new landing charges will mean passengers flying to or through the two London irports could pay an extra pounds 2 a ticket.

Newcastle Airport head of planning and corporate affairs Graeme Mason said: "We are concerned that the comments we submitted to the CAA as part of their consultation process, along with the views of our key regional partners, have been overridden.

"Our concern is that airlines will be under increasing pressure over the coming years to serve more profitable markets at the expense of regional routes.

"Regional air services to and from Heathrow and Gatwick are critical in order to sustain and further grow the North East regional economy."

CAPTION(S):

INCENSED: Flybe's Mike Rutter