Business charges hike will imply greater flight costs and fewer vacation routes for British vacationers, warns Gatwick boss

The boss of Gatwick has said a ‘very concerning’ rise in business rates could lead to higher prices and fewer holiday routes for British tourists.

Business rates paid by airports are set to jump from £200million to £1billion following a review of how they are calculated by the Valuation Office Agency.

For Gatwick, its annual £40million bill will increase to as much as £160million. 

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of the UK’s second-busiest airport, said: ‘Rates of this level will mean British airports are less competitive against other leading airports around the world and we risk routes and trade being lost, resulting in less choice for travellers and the sectors that rely on us to run their businesses.’

Warning: Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate said a business rates hike will mean British airports are less competitive against other leading airports around the world