Dave Thompson MSP

Attempts to steal the limelight 'a bitter pill to swallow'

Attempts by Danny Alexander to take credit for additional flights between Inverness and Gatwick have been branded a “bitter pill to swallow” after the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s continued support for deeply damaging Air Passenger Duty.

In 2013 Flybe announced it was ending its routes from Inverness to London Gatwick, blaming the cost of Westminster’s Air Passenger Duty as a key factor and sparking fears that the vital transport link for the Highlands would be lost.

However, a collaborative effort between airport operator Hial, the Scottish Government and EasyJet saw the airline agree to introduce additional flights between Inverness and London that will replace the flights lost with Flybe’s withdrawal.

The additional EasyJet flights are set to commence operation on Monday 31st March, with senior LibDem Danny Alexander set to be on the first flight to London – despite his continued support for Air Passenger Duty, the policy that helped create the problem in the first place.

Scotland’s Future set out the Scottish Government’s plans to halve Air Passenger Duty in the first parliamentary term of an independent Scotland, with a view to abolishing it when finances allow.

Commenting, SNP MSP Dave Thompson said: “Danny Alexander’s attempts to shoulder his way into getting some publicity on this issue is a bitter pill to swallow for everyone who worked so hard to secure this essential air link between Inverness and London.

“The start of this additional service should be a chance to acknowledge the efforts of the local community who campaigned to keep this route operating – not a platform for Danny Alexander to get his photo in the papers.

“What did he contribute when the delicate discussions on EasyJet taking over these vital routes were taking place?

“Not only did Double-Standards Danny Alexander fail to provide practical help to keep the vital route operating, he has actively stood in the way of giving Scotland the powers that could attract more airlines to Inverness.

“With a Yes vote we will gain the ability to set Air Passenger Duty according to Scotland’s priorities and attract more routes to airports across Scotland to secure the economic rewards that come with those routes.

“It is long past time that Danny Alexander started supporting Inverness airport and agreed that decisions on Air Passenger Duty need to be made in Scotland.

Notes:

Flybe’s Chief Executive citing the cost of Air Passenger Duty in the decision to withdraw Inverness to Gatwick flights can be viewed at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/warning-flybe-sells-gatwick-airport-1906050

Last month British Airways boss Willie Walsh made clear that a Yes vote “is probably going to be a positive development” because of the Scottish Government’s recognition that Air Passenger Duty is damaging Scotland’s economy.

In 2012, Prestwick Airport Chief Executive Tom Wilson said that Air Passenger Duty was the biggest single issue facing the aviation industry.

A report by York Aviation estimated that by 2016 Scotland’s airports will be handling around 2.1 million passengers per annum fewer than they might have been, if the APD changes since 2007 had not been implemented.