Blackpool to lose Dublin flights

As recession bites, governments and airports would seem to be intent on hitting travellers in order to increase revenue from an ever decreasing market. It would appear that every other day low cost carriers are threatening to cut or shift services as they attempt to beat down the flames of taxation. And today is no different. Ryanair today announced that they would cease serving the Blackpool - Dublin route (daily) and Barcelona - Girona (three times weekly) from January 4 2009 after Blackpool airport announced that it was introducing an airport development levy from January 5 2009. 

Since Ryanair began serving the airport in 2003 they have carried 1.3m passengers to / from the airport. The airline had engaged in unsuccessful discussions with airport management in an attempt to persuade them not to introduce the levy but now that the airport has decided to go ahead with the introduction of the fee Ryanair is pulling all services.