Brussels, 03/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The regional airlines are sounding the alarm: too many barriers are harming the industry. The director general of the European Regional Airlines Association (ERA), Mike Ambrose, blamed “member states which struggle to manage the constraints of the current economic crisis”, speaking at the end of the organisation's annual general meeting in Dublin at the end of September. He spoke out against those who see “an increase in tax on air passengers as an easy way to increase their revenue”, with no consideration of the effects that these additional barriers have on air transport and the negative consequences for the national economies. Recently, Spain illustrated this point by increasing airport taxes by 20%. On top of this come kerosene prices, which has risen in recent years, the association also laments. The regional airlines call for more transparency in taxes levied on airports, and the creation of fair competition between the various modes of transport. (MD/transl.fl)