This week Rebecca Pow MP wrote to the Chancellor urging him to scrap plans to devolve Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Wales which would allow Cardiff Airport to run cheaper flights, undercutting Bristol Airport.

Bristol and Cardiff Airports are only 60 miles apart and if APD were to be devolved to Wales the South West economy could lose up to £843million, 1,569 jobs and result in a 25% drop in passengers travelling form Bristol Airport by 2020.

Bristol Airport is the ninth busiest in the UK and handled 6.76 million passengers in 2015 alone, any threats to this could have major repercussions throughout the whole of the South West.

This week Rebecca has joined with other South West MPs to write to the Chancellor urging him to reconsider this serious move. The devolution of this tax to Wales could create a tax-payer funded incentive for airlines to relocate to Wales and could put Bristol Airport’s prospects of securing direct services to the US and Middle East in jeopardy.

Rebecca said:‘We are urging the Chancellor not to devolve APD to Wales because if they decide to waive this it would severely distort the market and potentially and drive passengers to Cardiff. Whilst I am not against a reduction in APD I believe that it is vital that there is a level playing field across the UK. Bristol Airport is a thriving hub, a key airport for the people of Taunton Deane as well as a rapidly expanding transport link for the South West and I am keen to see this success continue in the coming years.'