Private pilots are being “forced out” of local airports because of the increasing popularity of low-cost carriers, according to a report in today’s Guardian.
The newspaper, quoting Martin Robinson, chief executive of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association, states that Britain’s 25,000 private pilots are “becoming increasingly frustrated at soaring landing fees, compulsory landing charges and the frosty welcome at airports where they were once welcome”.
The newspaper attributes the change in attitude to the fact that regional airports are now keen to attract carriers such as Ryanair, FlyBe and EasyJet.
Robinson is quoted as saying: “It’s all tied in with the grandiose idea that these are all large international airports. To be honest, it’s a joke. Many of these airports saw the government’s white paper on airport expansion and took it as a green light for Little Snodgrass International.”
Report by Tim Gillett News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com
