A detail of Gordon Browns' UK Pre Budget statement will mean flights from and to the Isle of Man will be a little bit more expensive from February.

He has doubled air passenger duty to ten pounds per flight.

The UK collects the duty on tickets issued "across the water" while the Manx Government collects the duty of the "Island issued" tickets.

Its possible but unlikely that the Manx Government could decide to keep the level of tax at the present level. They may however go ahead with the rise, arguing that the tax collected here will go to the local economy.
The subject may be discussed in Thursdays' Council of Ministers meeting, or they could defer a decision to the next Council of Ministers.

There are warnings of the affect an increase could have on the Islands' airlines, with the level of competition and the slim margins being worked.

Meanwhile outgoing Chief Minister Donald Gelling will speak to a sell out Chamber of Commerce Christmas luncheon at the Hilton on Thursday.
His successor should be Tony Brown. The long serving Castletown member of the House of Keys was the only name put in, when nominations closed on Wednesday evening.