Following the reports that the Conservative government is considering cutting air passenger duty on domestic flights as part of a plan to save regional airline Flybe from collapse, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “Flybe looks set to follow Thomas Cook, despite only being ‘rescued’ last year. The way to ensure our businesses stay afloat is to provide certainty, rather than the chaos the Conservatives have presided over for the last three years.
“Offering troubled airlines like Flybe cuts to Air Passenger Duty is not the answer and a huge worry for climate campaigners – particularly when Boris Johnson is going soft on his commitment to high speed rail.
“This Conservative Government must not only commit to building HS2, but start taking the climate emergency seriously. In a year when the UK is hosting the COP26 climate change conference, we need action to cut emissions, not air passenger duty.”