Ryanair halts growth in UK over tourist tax

The collapse in UK air travel has seen Ryanair announce it is to scrap any plans for new services in and out of Britain.

Announcing what it called a "freeze on growth" at the nine UK airports from which it operates - headed by Stansted - Ryanair has blamed the fall in passenger numbers on Labour's £10-a-time, £2billion air-fare duty.

"Gordon Brown's £10 tourist tax will see Britain lose over 10 million passengers, 10,000 airport jobs and more than £2.5 billion in tourism spend in the UK this year alone," said Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.

He said Ryanair will continue to grow at 15% this year but none of that growth will come from UK airports.

"Tourism responds quickly to price changes and while the UK keeps taxing tourists Ryanair will switch its growth to other EU countries where low cost airports are growing and where governments are welcoming tourists not taxing them," said O'Leary.