Air passenger duty campaign success

Andrew George welcomed the success of the local campaign to head off Government proposals to add a new Air Passenger tax to the helicopter service between the Isles of Scilly and Penzance.

Mr George, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and others had launched a campaign against the Government’s proposed extension of Air Passenger Duty to the helicopter service, pointing out that it would probably mean that the helicopter service to the Scillies would fold as prices would have risen more than 200%!

In a recent Government announcement, Treasury and Transport Ministers accepted the case that had been made and confirmed that it would not extend Air Passenger Duty to the Scillies helicopter service.

Mr George said, “It is a great relief. None of us could quite believe that the Government would be prepared to effectively kill off the most important lifeline transport service to the Isles of Scilly. Both the Council, British International Helicopters and I had urged Ministers to think again, especially regarding the disproportionate impact it would have on the Isles of Scilly.

“I congratulate Mike Hicks, the Chairman of the Council, and others for the efforts they have made in making sure that we put a strong case across.”