News: Tax increase hits passenger numbers at Prestwick
Flights > News > # 1284 (24/05/2007)
Passenger numbers on short-haul flights from Glasgow Prestwick have fallen as a result of Gordon Brown’s tax hike.
The prime minister-elect shocked the travel industry by doubling air passenger duty earlier this year, and bosses at Prestwick airport say domestic flights in have been hit the hardest.
Passenger figures for Ryanair’s flights between Prestwick and London Stansted in April are 5000 down compared with the same month last year.
Several no-frills airlines have blamed the tax rise for a dip in passenger numbers. Easyjet said it had even affected its share price.
Prestwick's chief executive Mark Rodwell said: "A number of carriers have observed the government airport passenger duty increase is having an adverse effect on loads, particularly on domestic routes. Time will tell us what the impact will be."
Prestwick handled more than 203,000 passengers last month, a drop of 3% for the same period 12 months ago.
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