Thomson axe two routes over passenger tax increase
01.07.08
The 67% increase in the controversial passenger fees at Norwich Airport has claimed its first victim after Thomson announced that it has axed two winter routes, the Evening News reports. The holiday company will no longer operate winter flights to Gran Canaria and Tenerife from Norwich, as they are no longer commercially viable after the airport's decision to up the Airport Development Fee (ADF) from £3 to £5 per passenger from September.
Passengers booked on the weekly flights to the Canaries this winter will see their services cancelled and rearranged through different airports, including as Luton and Stansted. A spokeswoman for Thomson told the newspaper: ‘We appreciate that route changes can be inconvenient and apologise to any customers who have been affected by the decision to operate summer flights only out of Norwich airport.'
‘There has been a review into the profitability of these winter routes, partially due to the increase in the Airport Development Fee, and the conclusion has been made that winter routes from Norwich Airport are no longer commercially viable.’ The spokeswoman added that its summer flights to the Canaries and other Spanish destinations, as well as Corfu, Malta and Cyprus, would be unaffected.
An airport spokesman told the newspaper: ‘This is not because of a lack of popularity. The flights were more than 90% full last winter. Tenerife flights with Thomas Cook are still available from Norwich. We are waiting for confirmation from another airline for alternative flights to Gran Canaria.’
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