Ryanair plan to cut services to and from Robin Hood airport this winter due to increased taxes.

The move to cull flights comes as the airline announced a new base at Leeds Bradford airport offering services to 14 destinations.

Earlier this month Ryanair announced that nine out of 10 services to and from Manchester will be ceased following a dispute over airport charges.  The one route remaining at the airport will be Dublin to Manchester.

Other services that have been scrapped include Dublin to Doncaster, as well as dozens of services from London Stansted and Dublin, due to an increase in taxes imposed by the British and Irish governments.

Air Passenger Duty on short haul flights will increase by 10 percent from November 1 this year as tax on medium and long haul flights double.

“Unfortunately, increased travel taxes are affecting our ability to offer the lowest fares,” said a Ryanair spokesman.

He added that passengers who are affected by the alterations would receive a full refund.

Despite the cut back in services, Ryanair have announced plans of a new base at Leeds Bradford in March 2010, offering mainland services to Ibiza, Malaga and Malta, which will also create about 1,000 jobs.

Over the last year 140 routes have been cut from Britain to mainland Europe due to rising costs and declining passenger numbers.

Many routes are also being cut back in frequency.

Thanks to The Telegraph for the above quotes.  For more information on this article visit their website.