Edinburgh Airport boss wants return of new route subsidies
19.03.09
The boss at Edinburgh Airport is demanding the revival of a controversial scheme that saw public money used to subsidise new air routes to help the nation beat the downturn, the Scotsman reports. Gordon Dewar, managing director of the airport, said the move was vital to help the industry in Scotland compete with European rivals.
The former Route Development Fund, instigated by the then Scottish Executive in 2002, saw £6.8 million put into supporting new air links including to New York and Dubai. However, it was withdrawn by the SNP in its first budget in November 2007, despite protests from business leaders, and the fact that it helped get dozens of new routes off the ground.
The SNP blamed the decision to axe the fund on a ruling from the European Commission, which Mr Dewar says was effectively overturned by a legal ruling last year. Mr Dewar told the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group's conference: ‘It's unfortunate that such a fund existed, arguably in the years of plenty, but is now absent when it is needed most.’
A government spokeswoman told the newspaper: ‘We are continuing to work with airlines to encourage new routes to and from Scotland.’
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