Ryanair axes all but three Glasgow routes blaming ministers’ failure to cut air taxes

● Prestwick also loses routes, but Edinburgh gains

Ryanair said its decision to axe most Glasgow flights had been “self-inflicted” by ministers’ failure to honour their pledge to halve air taxes.

The airline will cut its routes to three this winter compared with 17 last winter and 23 this summer,threatening300jobs.

Prestwick will also lose two of its ten routes, but Edinburgh’s winter routes will increase from 35 to 45, including five of Glasgow’s.

Glasgow Airport denied the cuts were linked to a new deal with Ryanair after the initial four-year contract runs out in October.

Ryanair’s chief commercial officer David O’brien said Edinburgh had a stronger “inbound component” than Glasgow – meaning greater tourist appeal.

He said the decision was down to air passenger duty (APD) for such flights not being halved from £13 to £6.50 per passenger, as the Scottish Government had planned.

He also said Brexit was a threat to Scottish tourism and the airline industry.

Ryanair will only fly to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw from Glasgow, with its base at the airport closing. The single aircraft based at Glasgow will be moved elsewhere.

Many of the routes being cut are city-break type destinations rather than coastal holiday resorts.

Routes to Gran Canaria and Barcelona are being lost by Prestwick.

Mr O’brien said routes being retained at the loss-making airport – which has been kept open by £40 million of Scottish

0 Ryanair will increase its route network from Edinburgh to 45 from next winter, at the expense of Glasgow and Prestwick, which both lose several routes Union approval to continue an exemption for Inverness.

The SNP government is also unlikely to have won approval because it has done a Budget deal with the Greens, who oppose cutting air taxes.

“Bitterly disappointed” Glasgow Airport chiefs said: “This is a result of the airline’s review of its single aircraft bases.

“However, we have been left in no doubt it is also a consequence of the Scottish Government’s inability to introduce its proposed cut in ADT.

“We met with the Scottish Government following its decision to take Prestwick into publicownershipandreceived assurances at the time that its plans would not be to the detriment of any other airport.

“In light of today’s announcement, we will be seeking a further meeting.”

A Prestwick Airport spokeswoman said: “This is a commercial decision for Ryanair, but we are delighted we are seen as key to their operations in Scotland and Ryanair is committed to continuing to operate from Prestwick.”

But Colin Howden, director of sustainable transport campaign group Transform Scotland, said Ryanair’s APD claims were “ludicrous” and a “smokescreen tactic” since the tax has been in place for nearly 25 years.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said he was still committed to halving ADT by 2021, but “continued uncertainty around Brexit is having a negative impact on route development in Scotland”.