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Flybe In Trouble?
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Part of Flybe's current difficulty relates to a large tax bill they're due to pay; the government are considering reducing Air Passenger Duty (APD) to give Flybe a breathing space
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although primarily a revenue raiser, APD has the spin-off benefit of offsetting the carbon footprint of domestic air travel. given today's "flight-shaming" environmental climate, it's telling that the government would seek to bin a perceived environmental benefit in order to save a struggling bit-part airline, whose routes are paralleled by perfectly adequate road and rail services. Does saving 2000 jobs trump the environment?
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although primarily a revenue raiser, APD has the spin-off benefit of offsetting the carbon footprint of domestic air travel. given today's "flight-shaming" environmental climate, it's telling that the government would seek to bin a perceived environmental benefit in order to save a struggling bit-part airline, whose routes are paralleled by perfectly adequate road and rail services. Does saving 2000 jobs trump the environment?
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I was listening to stuff about this this morning. The concept is not to allow the airline to make more money but to insist that the reduction is passed straight to the customer to make using the airline more attractive than driving. Apparently full planes flying are more environmentally friendly than cars driving with one person in each.
in order to make flying internal air routes more attractive, there needs to be more incentive than just price. I can drive to Glasgow, even in moderate to thick traffic, in 4h30mn. If I fly I need to allow 35mn to get to the airport, the airline insists that I check in 2 hours before the flight and the bus at the other end can take up to 45mn to get to the city - and all this on top of a flight that takes 1 hour gate to gate. For me it's a no-brainer - drive every time.
//I can drive to Glasgow, even in moderate to thick traffic, in 4h30mn.//
Where from, Carlisle? :-)
Everybody's needs are different. If I had to go to Glasgow (perish the thought) I can get there in under three hours, entirely by public transport (bus and air from London City). Airport check in is 15 mins, flight time 1h 20m. At least six flights a day. Fifteen minutes from Glasgow airport to the City Centre. If I went by road it's 435 miles. That means at least eight hours (without a stop). In three hours I'd be lucky to have reached Milton Keynes on most days. Domestic airlines provide a useful service for many people.
I don't know anybody who has been deterred from flying by Air Passenger Duty. I fly long haul and pay a ludicrous sum in APD but I've never given a thought to changing my plans because of it any more than I would change them if anybody attempted to "flight sham" me as many gullible Swedes are succumbing to. I feel no shame undertaking a perfectly legitimate activity. The notion that APD "helps the planet" is laughable. All it amounts to is yet another way to pile guilt on to people who are simply going about their business and pleasure and it will do less than nothing to address whatever problem is thought to exist.
That said, Flybe has a cheek in wanting the government to allow them to delay paying their APD bill. They have taken fares from passengers, part of which is APD. The passengers have paid their tax up front (as they are obliged to do) but now Flybe want to hold on to that cash to spend on something else. It's no different to an employer deducting income tax and NI from its employees and then declining to pay it to the Exchequer.
Where from, Carlisle? :-)
Everybody's needs are different. If I had to go to Glasgow (perish the thought) I can get there in under three hours, entirely by public transport (bus and air from London City). Airport check in is 15 mins, flight time 1h 20m. At least six flights a day. Fifteen minutes from Glasgow airport to the City Centre. If I went by road it's 435 miles. That means at least eight hours (without a stop). In three hours I'd be lucky to have reached Milton Keynes on most days. Domestic airlines provide a useful service for many people.
I don't know anybody who has been deterred from flying by Air Passenger Duty. I fly long haul and pay a ludicrous sum in APD but I've never given a thought to changing my plans because of it any more than I would change them if anybody attempted to "flight sham" me as many gullible Swedes are succumbing to. I feel no shame undertaking a perfectly legitimate activity. The notion that APD "helps the planet" is laughable. All it amounts to is yet another way to pile guilt on to people who are simply going about their business and pleasure and it will do less than nothing to address whatever problem is thought to exist.
That said, Flybe has a cheek in wanting the government to allow them to delay paying their APD bill. They have taken fares from passengers, part of which is APD. The passengers have paid their tax up front (as they are obliged to do) but now Flybe want to hold on to that cash to spend on something else. It's no different to an employer deducting income tax and NI from its employees and then declining to pay it to the Exchequer.
2000 jobs for the airline.......plus the jobs associated with it from those on the ramp, in the terminal, catering, cleaning, fuelling, maintenance....plus local trade that would be affected by loss of business either directly/indirectly....plus the jobs lost or seriously affected as not able to easily commute within the UK and beyond and so it goes on. That said it is the same for any larger company that faces closure or reduction in size.
//Hey, lay off Glasgow, NJ - it's no mean city!//
Went there once over 40 years ago and vowed I would never go again! However, I accept that it has changed somewhat in that time so I may give it another go :-).
The same thing happened to me with Liverpool. Went there a few times decades ago with similar vows never to return However, visited some people in Wirral last year and they took us on a tour of the City. I will admit they have done wonders with it, especially the old dock area (far better than London's Docklands). So Glasgow might still be in with a shout (by air, naturally!).
Went there once over 40 years ago and vowed I would never go again! However, I accept that it has changed somewhat in that time so I may give it another go :-).
The same thing happened to me with Liverpool. Went there a few times decades ago with similar vows never to return However, visited some people in Wirral last year and they took us on a tour of the City. I will admit they have done wonders with it, especially the old dock area (far better than London's Docklands). So Glasgow might still be in with a shout (by air, naturally!).
More taxpayers' money to bail out the Tory's rich cronies when they get too greedy and flop.
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