£22m cost of air tax

Since April, the city has lost out on conferences worth £22million as organisers decide to go to other cities where flights are cheaper.

Glasgow Airport's position, serving a country on the edge of Europe, means it needs a tax break similar to one granted to Belfast to be competitive, it has been argued.

Politicians and business leaders are calling for action to reduce the cost of flying in and out of Glasgow, to compensate the higher fuel costs to reach the airport..

This week Chancellor George Osborne bent the rules on Air Passenger Duty for Belfast and leaders in Glasgow are demanding the same be done here.

Mr Osborne said the decision was a one-off to prevent American Airlines axing its transatlantic route in the face of cheaper competition form Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

The Government is now being told the significant loss of business to Glasgow merits a similar cut.

The Chancellor halved the Air Passenger Duty from Belfast to the USA to £12 for economy and £60 for business class.

He said "Northern Ireland faces a unique challenge in attracting traffic, including very valuable business customers into its airports."

Mr Osborne is now being told the same arguments apply to Glasgow, and facing calls to cut the rate or devolve it the Scottish Parliament for them to cut.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, which has increased the city's conference trade in recent years, tracks all the conference business it wins and all it loses out on and the reasons why.

Scot Taylor, chief executive of GCMB, said: "We have identified as a result of limited access to Glasgow caused by the iniquitous airport tax, the city has lost out on £22m of conference business since April this year.

"The constraints placed on airlines by the tax which punishes in-bound tourists and businesses in the city, is clearly impacting on their decisions to route to Scotland.

"The decision by the UK government to bend the rules for Belfast is an open door for airlines, airports and cities to demand fair treatment."

Those demands are being made loud and clear from within Glasgow and from the Scottish Government.

Keith Brown, Transport Minister, said: "We note with interest the UK Government's decision to reduce APD in Northern Ireland and devolve "aspects" of the duty which it is said is designed to tackle the competitive disadvantages experienced in Northern Ireland.

"The Scottish Government has pressed and we continue to press the UK Government to devolve APD in Scotland to enable us to deal with the competitive disadvantages faced by our aviation industry and the difficulties this presents to passengers.

"The compelling case for a devolved regime which best meets Scottish needs, remains.

"Devolution of APD now would provide the means to incentivise airlines to provide new direct international connections to Scotland benefiting our aviation industry and passengers and supporting the Scottish economy.

"We need Air Passenger Duty to be devolved now and we expect the UK Government to honour its previous commitment to devolve APD once its review has been completed later this autumn."

The £22m is only for conference business and it is thought millions more can be added in tourism and the short breaks market.

Business leaders backed calls for lower airport taxes.

Stuart Patrick said: "We are wholeheartedly in support of a recognition of Scotland's geographical position which is similar to Belfast.

"The principle is the same, it takes longer to get here. Bringing down APD would offset the higher fuel costs to fly to Glasgow.

We are in favour of a reduction especially for long-haul flights. We vigorously support devolution of APD to Holyrood.

"APD is not a small marginal tax per head, it is hundreds of pounds not just a handful of change.

"Other countries toyed with it and 'either rejected or removed it'.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "The UK currently has the highest rate of aviation tax in Europe and there is no indication that this will be capped or lowered to help improve our competitive position.

"Due to Scotland's geographic location we are particularly reliant on air services, however, the increasing burden of APD is already proving a significant barrier to attracting new routes.

"There is no question that the ability of Scots to travel for business or leisure will suffer unless there is a fundamental review of APD.

"On the question of devolution of APD, we have always been supportive of this proposal given the Scottish Government's more progressive approach to aviation and its greater appreciation of the role the industry plays in supporting the growth of the Scottish economy.

"We would remind everyone that there is, first and foremost, a pressing need to act on the UK APD rate."

Hundreds of deadly weapons seized at Scotland's airports

By Rebecca Gray

A variety of deadly weapons has been seized from holidaymakers arriving at Glasgow Airport during a crackdown over the summer.

Swords, stun guns, daggers and guns were confiscated from air travellers returning from foreign countries.

Other items seized were knuckle-dusters and batons.

And across Scotland's airports, passengers at Glasgow, Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen terminals handed in 176 weapons from July 1 to August 31 this year.

As part of the campaign, UK Border Agency officers gave advice on what can and cannot be legally brought back from holidays and trips abroad, and posters about the issue were displayed.

Passengers were encouraged to surrender any weapons they may have picked up overseas, even if these were legally obtained.

In the year ending March 31 this year, the UKBA said 387 offensive weapons including 34 firearms, 111 bladed weapons and 242 other weapons were seized from people travelling through Scotland's airports.

Murdo MacMillan, assistant director for the UKBA in Scotland, said: "We are very pleased that our officers' efforts have resulted in so many dangerous and often deadly weapons from making it on to the streets of Scotland.

"Our officers have been trying to educate people about those knives and weapons that are illegal to bring into Scotland from overseas. Just because you legally buy an item while on holiday abroad does not mean it can be brought to Scotland.

"We are determined to prevent lethal weapons reaching our streets and for those caught trying to smuggle these into Scotland or simply unaware of the controls in place.

"If you are found breaking the law by carrying banned knives and offensive weapons then you will be stopped, the weapons will be seized and you will face prosecution."

UKBA officials warned anyone caught in possession of a weapon banned in the UK would be charged with illegal importation of a prohibited weapon under the 1979 Customs and Excise Management Act.

The punishment for this can include a jail sentence.