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From Newcastle Journal

MPs back Newcastle Airport argument to scrap Air Passenger Duty
The Journal May 10 2013 http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...61634-33310278/

Planes at Newcastle International Airport
INFLUENTIAL MPs have backed North East business leaders’ calls to expand Heathrow Airport and potentially scrap Air Passenger Duty.
In a report published today, the Transport Select Committee says plans for a new “Boris Island” airport in the Thames estuary should be binned, while a third and possibly even fourth runway are added to Britain’s biggest airport, boosting connectivity with the regions.
The committee also urges the Government to launch a study into whether APD is having a damaging effect on the economy, and if it is, to abolish it, something that Newcastle International Airport, The Journal and the North East Chamber of Commerce have long campaigned for.
NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham hopes ministers will heed the recommendations, which also include a 12 month APD ‘holiday’ for new routes at airports outside of the South East
He said: “A third Heathrow runway would have a positive impact on regional business, improving links from North East airports to the capital and beyond.
“And by removing APD, even for a 12-month period as suggested, the North East could further improve on our impressive export performance and deliver more for UK PLC.
“The removal of APD would also help the North East secure more long haul flights and could achieve the priority target of attracting a direct flight to the USA.”
Newcastle International currently has six flights a day into Heathrow, helping businesses connect with markets around the world.
However, it’s feared pressure to devote limited Heathrow slots to international routes will threaten Newcastle’s allocation, which couldhave dire consequences for the local economy.
Recent research by Oxford Economics found £3.6bn worth of exports from the region are dependent on air travel and 96% of these go via a hub airport like Heathrow.
It’s reckoned to support 2,000 tourism jobs and 700 airport jobs in the North East, with visitors travelling via Heathrow contributing £49.3m to the region’s GDP in 2010. The study also found one in seven jobs in the region is dependant on foreign investment.
Graeme Mason of Newcastle International Airport said: “Building an airport in the Thames Estuary is too expensive, we said that, and we’ve always said we support additional capacity at Heathrow, though the committee has gone further and considered a fourth runway, which we would very much welcome.
“If Government policy comes to mirror this then that would be a major victory.”
Jamie Martin of law firm Ward Hadaway said the recommendations could be excellent news for the North East economy.
“The region is already a net exporter and the continuing growth of industries such as the offshore, subsea and renewable energy sectors means that North East know-how and products are in increasing demand across the globe.
“The continuing success of Newcastle International Airport has made a major contribution to this and removing the burden of Air Passenger Duty would improve the situation even further.
“When you add this to the prospect of an expanded Heathrow with better connectivity to the North East, it has the potential to really open up the world to the region.”