Highland to fight charge threatening airport hub

Published on Thursday 12 May 2011 17:24

A CAMPAIGN has been launched in defence of Inverness airport as a regional hub for the Highlands amid fears that all such facilities are at risk.

Highland Council is worried increased landing charges at Gatwick and more competition with Heathrow for long-haul routes will squeeze short-haul flights to the London hub.

Councillors have backed Flybe, which is challenging landing charge hikes at Gatwick, and aim to lobby Westminster and Holyrood to highlight the importance of daily air links between Inverness and Gatwick for the Highland economy

They are also seeking the backing of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities over an issue they fear could affect other Scottish airports. Flybe operates a three-times-a-day service between Inverness and Gatwick.

The new operators of Gatwick Airport, Global Infrastructure Partners, won permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to raise landing fees.

Its new charges represent a 15.7 per cent rise for smaller aircraft, of the type mainly used by regional operators such as Flybe, with a 5 per cent rise for larger aircraft.

Highland Council leader Michael Foxley said: "Any increase in fees will inevitably need to be passed on to customers and the real danger is this will make the route less profitable and less viable.

"It goes against the whole ethos of promoting Inverness and the Highlands as both a place to do business and as a tourism destination. Any loss in service would severely impact on the whole region."