Airport fears Heathrow flight loss
16.08.07
Bosses at Durham Tees Valley Airport are concerned that a rise in charges for flights into Heathrow Airport and the open skies agreement between the EU and US that comes in to force next March could lead see it loose its daily flight to London.
The Competition Commission is considering proposals from the Civil Aviation Authority on charges levied on regional airlines using Heathrow. There are fears these could be increased by up to 70%, and that this put a question mark over the viability of bmi's daily service from Durham Tees Valley to Heathrow.
There is further worry that the open skies deal will open up Heathrow to all European and US airlines on transatlantic routes, placing further pressure on the number of slots for UK regional services. There are fears that slots could be reallocated to more profitable long haul services.
Stockton North MP Frank Cook said the issue has massive implications for Teesside and the rest of the North East. He said: 'The loss of flights to the business world's international airport would come as a huge blow to the airport and the wider region. It would drive a coach and horses through government policies aimed at bridging the North - South divide.'
'The Competition Commission and the Government need to know that what really matters is the public interest. We need a charging system which enables the maintenance of regional air services rather than letting them fall victim to a commercial free-for-all in the fight for transatlantic business.'
Hugh Lang, managing director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: 'We have made clear our concerns to the Competition Commission and urged them to consider measures that would ensure the protection of regional services, especially well-established links such as that from Durham Tees Valley that has been in place for over 37 years.'
He said that bmi had very serious concerns, particularly as charges had already risen by 43%.
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