Ryanair says a levy could force it to cut services

Airport owner Cornwall County Council is considering a levy of up to �5 on all departures to ease its losses of more than �1m a year.

South West Tourism is supporting the move, saying a solution has to be found to the deficit and the proposed levy could be the answer.

But Ryanair warned the move could cut the number of services it operates.

It is a bullet we have got to bite Malcolm Bell, South West Tourism

Deputy chief executive of Ryanair Michael Crawley, said: "It's a very foolish step. The whole thesis is that Ryanair can afford to charge passengers another �5.

"If that were the case we'd be doing it already.

"We may not be the smartest people in the world, but we are not entirely stupid and the fact that we charge an average fare of �25 between Stansted and Newquay is because that is the price that 200,000 people will pay to take that route every year."

Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism, said: "We'd all like to see a situation where we did not need a levy, but there is this �1m black hole and we have to be pragmatic about it.

"It is critical that we find a solution to keep Newquay operating. If it's a choice between having an airport and not having an airport, I think everyone agrees it is a bullet we have got to bite."