Airport bosses back bid to scrap duty on passengers

BOSSES at Edinburgh Airport have backed calls to scrap air passenger duty.

A report commissioned by Britain’s four biggest airlines found the economic benefit of abolishing the tax would add 0.46 per cent to gross domestic product in its first year.

The tax adds £13 to every short-haul economy class ticket and £65 to business and first class seats.

British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic commissioned the study.

Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar urged the government to consider the findings carefully.

Mr Dewar said: “We agree that, by abolishing air passenger duty, Scottish tourism will increase and there will be a rise  in business productivity.”