Highlands fight higher landing charges at Gatwick

News at Gatwick 16/05/2011

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A Scottish campaign defending local flight links is fighting increased charges at Gatwick.

A new campaign has been kicked off in a bid to defend Inverness airport’s position as an air hub for the Highlands region. The campaign is founded in fears over the risk to such regional facilities created by higher landing charges at Gatwick airport.

Highland Council fears that higher landing charges Gatwick airport and increased competition with Heathrow airport over long-haul services will pressure short-haul routes through Gatwick. Councillors are backing budget carrier Flybe, which is contending with increased landing fees at Gatwick.

Councillors plan to lobby parliamentarians in both Scotland and England over the importance to the Highland economy of daily flights between Gatwick and Inverness. They are also looking for the support of an association of local authorities in Scotland over an issue they say threatens to affect other airports in Scotland.

Flybe currently offers three daily flights between Inverness and Gatwick. Gloabl Infrastructure Partners, the new owners of Gatwick airport, recently received the Civil Aviation Authority’s approval for increased landing fees.

Smaller planes, like those mainly operated by regional carriers like Flybe, will see landing charges rise by 15.7 per cent. Bigger planes will see landing charges rise by 5 per cent.

Michael Foxley, leader of Highland Council, says any increase in charges inevitably has to be transferred to customers. He adds that this risks reducing the profitability and, therefore, viability of the route.

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