WHEN it comes to our global connectivity, the ability of Aberdeen International Airport to attract and retain routes is paramount.
We’ve heard some challenging news on this over the preceding months, with two key London routes withdrawn by operators. The airport team are working incredibly hard to ensure that these routes are replaced with attractive alternatives, and that further routes are created for both business and leisure users. A clear example being the new Aberdeen to London Southend route, operated by Loganair and starting this month, which will see three new flights a day to the capital.
Current circumstances highlight that the aviation market continues to be ruthlessly competitive and, in this context, Scotland’s respective governments need to take the right steps to encourage route development.
READ MORE: Former SNP MSP writes to Nicola Sturgeon to condemn airline tax U-turn
At our latest roundtable with Derek Mackay MSP, cabinet secretary for finance at the Scottish Government, our focus was on upping the pace of reform across key areas for firms in the North-east, whether that was business rates or connectivity.
On aviation, Air Passenger Duty (APD) has directly impacted the North-east’s connectivity, with the tax referenced as a key factor in the closure of the Gatwick and London City routes from Aberdeen International Airport. Aberdeen’s airport also faces the unique circumstances of competing with Inverness Airport on key routes, which is exempt from the tax under current arrangements. Research has shown that scrapping APD would both generate a range of new routes and would make current routes more viable.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon signals U-turn over controversial air tax
The Scottish Government’s recent decision was made without consultation and despite consistent promises to business and will be seen as backwards step by those working to improve our connectivity and build our tourism sector in the North-east.
If we want the Aberdeen City Region to be an exporting hub for energy expertise, to diversify its economy into new growth sectors, to meet its aim of generating £1bn in annual visitor spend by 2023 and be at the forefront of the transition to clean energy, it’s absolutely vital that we have a strong regional airport to deliver the connectivity our businesses and trading partners expect.
Russell Borthwick is chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here