THE region could struggle to attract airlines and may see its economy erode if the Government reneges on a tax pledge, it was last night claimed.

Graeme Mason says international links face potential damage if Westminster kicks air passenger duty (APD) concerns “into the long grass”.

His appeal follows a warning Newcastle Airport could lose hundreds of thousands of passengers to Scottish rivals as ministers north of the border plan the abolition of APD, which is a passenger charge on air travel, under devolution powers.

Mr Mason, Newcastle’s planning and corporate affairs director, said the Government must honour a promise made by former Prime Minister David Cameron to offer support against “unfair tax competition”, adding talks are planned to thrash out an agreement.

He added action must be swift to provide transparency, adding the region’s exporters, which have delivered a strong balance of trade for the North-East in previous years, need lucidity on connectivity.

He told The Northern Echo: “We have had some very helpful engagement from ministers and hope to continue that dialogue through the spring and summer to bring us towards getting clarity in terms of what they are intending to do.

“We are optimistic of getting that but we need that clarity this year; the Autumn Budget is going to be very important.

“We are trying to push it back up the agenda; we have really got to use these next months to build up the momentum.

“It is about having a voice in the coming months.

“The erosion of connectivity will undermine the future performance of the regional economy.

“This is a problem not of our making; all we are asking for is fairness.”

Mr Mason added ministers must not use Brexit as a convenient excuse to continue overlooking APD, with Scottish cuts planned to begin next year.

He added: “We spent over a year working with the Government to try and find a solution but in late 2016 it became clear Brexit was the only game in town.

“But to do nothing is not an option; they cannot keep knocking this into the long grass.”

The strength of feeling was matched by Steve Gill, managing director of Peel Airports, which oversees Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA).

The site was recently included on a provisional Westminster list for new domestic flights into an expanded Heathrow, which could see DTVA join the base’s network by 2030.

However, while Mr Gill has welcomed the long-term potential of such an agreement, he said issues around APD could cloud the airport’s short-term progress.

He said: “The aviation sector has long argued that APD is a barrier to growth and reduces competiveness of a key sector for the UK economy.

“Reducing APD through devolved powers without subsequent action to maintain a level playing field across the wider UK would leave regional airports offering vital international connectivity at a substantial disadvantage.

“At a time when there is rightly a focus on boosting regional growth outside of London, reducing APD for Scotland will put airports based in the North under further competitive strain.”

Any rekindling of the Heathrow route would deliver a major fillip for DTVA, which has relied heavily on KLM’s Aberdeen and Amsterdam flights since BMI withdrew its Heathrow service in 2009.