- Moderator
- #541
I think having APD devolved would be a good incentive but it isn't a complete guarentee of success or a guarentee of attracting an airline. Northern Ireland is an example of that as they have long haul APD devolved and Norwegian and United didn't stick around.You have a point about having your own government helping to oil some wheels being advantageous. Even with such help a route still has to be viable and background support from the government as well as route support from its own airport company can only go so far.
Whether that would stretch as far, as for example, getting a New York service before somewhere like BHX remains to be seen. There seems little doubt that abolition of APD would be a strong support as an airline could, and probably would, keep most/all of the APD equivalent in order to make a yield acceptable. I don't see fares coming down much in such circumstances.
Only time will tell whether the WG is ever successful in attracting the other 2 routes it wants.