Regional airports could struggle to survive
11.04.09
Some UK regional airports could struggle to survive the current recession because of falling passenger numbers, the Airport Operators Association (AOA) has warned. Its figures suggest passenger traffic at UK airports in March was down 15%, with Blackpool Airport down by 70% Durham Tees Valley by 50%.
Most smaller airports had seen fewer passengers than expected during the winter, with some also suffering route cancellations for the summer season too. A shortfall in income has forced a number to introduce extra charges for services such as fast-track security or car drop-offs. Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool all charge a £3 fee to fast-track through security, while Bristol charges £5. Blackpool and Norwich charge a mandatory airport development fee per passenger and Luton is to introduce a passenger drop off charge latter this month.
Neil Pakey of the AOA said: ‘There's no doubt about it, most airport budgets haven't been met. It has made airports more inventive than before, bringing in new types of projects, the fast lane initiative through security or priority lane is just one of those.' He said the government needed to step in to help small airports and called for air passenger duty (APD) to be scrapped.
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