The woman who will fight for the Thanet South seat at the next general election says the Government’s new aviation tax policy could cripple Kent International Airport at Manston.
Conservative parliamentary candidate Laura Sandys said: "The new aviation tax policy will threaten its future, with freight flights that represent 80 per cent of their current business moving to across the Channel.
"This tax will hit Manston at a crucial moment in its development and could threaten the airport’s future.”
She hopes the man she wants to unseat, Labour’s Steve Ladyman, will lobby the Treasury to change the tax plan to “save the airport”.
Ms Sandys added: “We have been in dialogue with Infratil, KIA's operator and they are concerned the tax will push their customers across the Channel in a highly competitive market.
"Freight is already being flown into European airports and brought across by ferry due to the security measures that have been imposed on freight in this country – this further burden on our developing airport could be disastrous."
“I have discussed the issue with George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and have briefed Julian Brazier MP, the Canterbury MP and Shadow Minister for Aviation.
"We are all committed to supporting the airport.”
Thanet North MP Roger Gale added: "We regard this as having very serious implications for the future development of the airport.
"At the very time when we are seeking to promote the commercial viability of the airport and to move some aviation away from central London, the last thing we need is an additional cost burden upon those using regional airports."