Transport minister Simon Burns at Manston Airport with chief executive Charles Buchanan

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The government has been urged to cut the "flight tax" for passengers using regional airports such as Manston.

Airport Passenger Duty has been rising steadily, often adding hundreds of pounds to business flights and family holidays to long-haul destinations.

It is one of the reasons why so many are switching to hub airports in countries with lower duty rates.

KLM's twice-daily shuttle from Manston to Schiphol, starting in April, is expected to capitalise on this trend.

Charles Buchanan, the Thanet terminal's chief executive, invited transport minister Simon Burns, who visited the airport this week, to be an advocate for local airports - which would include lobbying for differential duty rates.

He claimed regional airports offered a solution to the south east capacity challenge, could respond quickly and at a fraction of the cost of constructing new runways at main airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick – or in the Thames Estuary.

KLM flights from Manston Airport will begin in April

"I believe that the minister recognises the role that the south east's secondary airports can play in meeting the runway demand," Mr Buchanan said.

"What we now need to do is persuade him to be an advocate for regional
airports and discuss with the Treasury the role of financial incentives, such as differential Airport Passenger Duty, could play in encouraging the more efficient use of the existing available capacity, as a way of stimulating economic growth."

Mr Burns was also given a stark demonstration of the need for faster rail journeys along the whole line between London and Thanet.

After making the 37-minute journey between St Pancras and Ashford, he
experienced the much slower pace of the remaining distance to Ramsgate.

He was told that a £6.8million investment in track improvements would turn
the line from Ashford to Ramsgate into a high-speed route - and enhance
east Kent's attractiveness to job-creating firms, especially at
Discovery Park, the former Pfizer site at Sandwich.

Kent is also bidding for a £12m Parkway station to serve the airport and commuters.

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said: "We want to offer a seat on the train to a seat on the plane in 90 minutes or less."