Landing charges at Jersey Airport are nearly �20 per passenger

Le Cocqs Airlink manager Noel Hayes said the only way to improve the number of tourists coming to Jersey was to make it cheaper.

The island's airport task force has already used some of its �1m budget to cut landing fees by 90 pence per passenger, but the fee is still nearly �20.

Mr Hayes welcomed the reduction, but claimed much more was necessary.

"We hope this is the first 5%," he said.

'Maintain pressure'

"I think the airlines and all of the residents of Jersey need to keep the pressure up on the airport authorities to continue to reduce charges in real terms.

"I think we need landing fees down to �10 a head."

Mr Hayes argued that the high landing charges in Jersey had put thousands of tourists off coming to the island.

Recent figures showed an 8% drop in tourists last year.