Scotland’s three largest airports have come together in their latest bid to get a “hugely damaging” travel tax aboliished.

A joint submission by Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports to the Smith Commission is calling for responsibility over Air Passenger Duty to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

It is expected such a move would ultimately lead to the removal of APD in Scotland in line with previous commitments by the SNP administration at Holyrood.

Research commissioned by the three airports states that two million passengers a year in Scotland are hit by the levy.

It also suggests the cost to the economy of APD in terms of lost tourism spend will be £210m by 2016.

The UK Government has significantly increased rates and restructured APD since 2007 but repeated calls for the £2.9 billion-a-year tax to be scrapped – as its equivalent has been in the Republic of Ireland – have fallen on deaf ears.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Scotland’s airports unanimously agree that air passenger duty is hugely damaging to our industry.

“We‘ve argued long and hard for its reduction or abolition and have been ignored but now the evidence for its devolution to Scotland speaks for itself.

“Ryanair has already committed to delivering over one million new passengers in the event of APD being abolished, so it’s obvious that airlines support our argument.

“They’re already indicating the size of the prize that’s just beyond our grasp.

“Following a year of unprecedented success and attention for Scotland it would be foolish not to harness this opportunity to deliver a tremendous boost to our country’s tourism industry.”

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport said: “If Scotland is to attract and sustain the routes that will enable it to compete effectively in the global marketplace then it is imperative the issue of APD is addressed.

“It is a significant barrier to growth and it also makes it extremely challenging to maintain our existing routes.

“Despite repeated representations to the UK Government, the industry and passengers have had to endure continued increases in this damaging tax. The reforms announced earlier this year by the Chancellor and which will come into effect in 2015 fall short of providing any material benefit to Scotland’s airports.

Aberdeen managing director Carol Benzie added; “The calls to completely reform this tax regime have been growing steadily louder over the years and are now almost unanimous north of the border.