GEORGE Osborne has not gone far enough to resolve the wrangle over controversial air taxes, said airline Easyjet, as it announced three new flights from the North-East.

The operator wants to see the abolition of Air Passenger Duty (APD), which means that North-East customers pay higher fares than most of their European counterparts.

Airports such as Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle have urged Mr Osborne to ensure that northern airports are able to match cuts to APD that Scottish airports are planning to make as part of the devolution settlement.

Ali Gayward, easyjet’s UK commercial manager, welcomed the impending cuts to APD for children that were revealed in last week's Autumn Statement, but she urged the Chancellor to cut the duty. She said:

"It would be unfair if there were different levels of APD across the UK. There needs to be a level playing field."

Her comments came as the operator started selling tickets on new flights from Newcastle Airport to Split in Croatia, and the Greek islands of Corfu and Rhodes start next summer 2015.

More than 20,000 passengers are expected to fly in and out of Newcastle on the new routes from June to October next year alone.

• Newcastle to Split, Croatia is a summer service, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2 June 2015. Fares start from £30.00 one-way*

• Newcastle to Corfu, Greece is a summer service, flying on Sundays from 7 June 2015. Fares start from £32.99 one-way*

• Newcastle to Rhodes, Greece is a summer service, flying on Thursdays from 4 June 2015. Fares start from £34.99 one-way.

Fares are per person, based on two people on the same booking.