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10-Feb-2011 12:47 PM

Airlines oppose landing fee rise by Gatwick Airport

UK's Aurigny Air Services, which operates between Guernsey and Gatwick airport stated price increases at London Gatwick discriminate against smaller aircraft (BBC News, 09-Feb-2010). Malcolm Hart, the airline's MD, stated the airport is "squeezing out smaller airlines", adding that the extra GBP400,000 p/a it costs to operate to Gatwick would see fares on the route increase GBP2 from 01-Apr-2011. flybe is also opposed to the increase. London Gatwick stated that the 6% hike in fees was "competitively priced and would only apply during the summer" adding that the extra fees will help fund the airport's GBP 1 billion construction programme.

Aurigny Air Services: "Basically they want their busy runway occupied by the biggest jets they can get, even though industry professionals see no level of demand from operators of these large aircraft to use Gatwick currently." Malcom Hart, managing director. Source: BBC News, 09-Feb-2011.

Aurigny Air Services: "Unlike other regional airlines such as BMI which is stopping its Heathrow-Glasgow route and Air Southwest which has already ended theirs from Newquay and Plymouth to Gatwick, we will not pull out of Gatwick to save costs. As an island we rely heavily on the Gatwick slots for business and leisure, because we are owned by islanders, we can ensure that these vital links to Gatwick are retained, even if flying out of the airport with such a huge increase in costs would otherwise not make commercial sense." Malcom Hart, managing director. Source: BBC News, 09-Feb-2011.

London Gatwick: "With demand for air transport set to increase, coupled with a block on runway expansion in the South East, Gatwick must look at how best to make the most efficient use of a single runway." Company Spokesman. Source: BBC News, 09-Feb-2011.

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