Flybe chief slams ‘Quality of Life’ aviation tax

Flybe, Europe’s biggest regional airline, today called upon the Conservative Party to reject the London-centric attack on regional transport, proposed by its ‘Quality of Life’ Policy Group.

Responding to reports that John Gummer and millionaire ecologist Zac Goldsmith want to introduce a new domestic aviation tax, Flybe Chief Executive Jim French said “Imposing a tax on domestic flying is a slap in the face for the UK regions and is sadly yet-another example of London-centric policy making that ignores the world outside the M25.

“For the record, we at Flybe agree with Gummer and Goldsmith that transport from London Heathrow to places like Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle are not best served by air travel – the rail infrastructure into London meets such demand and that’s why we don’t offer such services. However, policy designed to solve London-centric angst cannot simply be applied to the rest of the country without seriously damaging regional economies that have come to rely on aviation”.

French continued “As politicians debate what their response should be to climate change, my plea is that we don’t lose perspective on the emissions made by UK domestic air travel which currently accounts for just 0.4% of total UK C02 emissions. And that from a country which is responsible for 2% of total global emissions.”

Commenting on Flybe’s approach to its environmental impact, French said “We alone have spent $2billion modernising our fleet, phasing out our older aircraft and realising a 50.48% reduction in CO2 emissions. By 2009, we’ll have one of the youngest fleet of aircraft in the world and by launching the world’s first eco-label for aircraft, our passengers know exactly the environmental impact of their flight before they even board the aircraft.

“The regional traveller who currently spends 90 minutes flying from Southampton to Aberdeen does not have the luxury of spending 9 hours on a train - with two changes thrown in for good measure. For that passenger, flying is not a luxury but a necessity.”

“I’m not a politician but it strikes me that killing off domestic aviation for political reasons might win a few votes in London is no way to make policy and no way to treat the rest of the country”.