Irish budget airline Ryanair has announced that it is to suspend all growth at its nine UK bases with immediate affect in a protest at the government's failure to scrap the £10 air passenger duty (APD).

The company, which has announced that it expects to grow by 15 per cent to more than 67 million passengers in 2009, has also demanded that the government intervenes to speed up the proposed sale of Gatwick and Stansted by airport operator BAA. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "Ryanair will grow by 15 per cent this year to over 67 million passengers. However, the UK will not share in any of this growth in 2009 as Ryanair freezes growth at our nine UK bases."

"Tourism is one of the UK's most important industries and employers. It responds quickly to price changes. The Government's £10 tourist tax is making the UK an uncompetitive destination and they must scrap this tax now to prevent a further collapse of UK passenger, tourism and job numbers."