Michael O’Leary in Northern Ireland air passenger tax scrapping call

Michael O’Leary has (yet again) called for air passenger duty in NI to be scrapped. Michael O’Leary, who has clashed with the Republic’s transport minister over
air passenger tax there, said it should be abolished across Ireland. 
Politicians have already called for a cut in the NI rate after Continental Airlines,
which operates between Belfast and New Jersey, said it may have to withdraw because
of the duty.

3 August 2011  (BBC)

The boss of Ryanair has called for air passenger duty in NI to be scrapped.

Air passenger duty currently adds up to £170 to a flight out of NI airports.
[An exaggerated claim, as for short haul flights of under 2,000 miles it is only
£12].

Michael O’Leary, who has clashed with the Republic’s transport minister over
air passenger tax there, said it should be abolished across Ireland.

Politicians have already called for a cut in the NI rate after Continental Airlines,
which operates between Belfast and New Jersey, said it may have to withdraw because
of the duty.

“It’s doing untold damage to air travel in the north of Ireland,” Mr O’Leary
said.

“We believe there should be no tax for people visiting the island of Ireland,
north or south.”

Mr O’Leary said the rates in the UK and the three euro rate in the Republic meant
both countries were missing out on the “enormous growth” being delivered across
Europe by his airline.

The Irish transport minister has said he is unable to cut the three euros rate
in the Republic as planned.

Leo Varadkar said he did not have solid enough commitments from airlines on how
they will increase capacity.

Ryanair has rejected claims that it was not offering to commit to bringing in
additional passengers.

The abolition of the three euros travel tax was one of a number of proposals
announced by the Irish government in May to help attract more tourists to the
country.

VAT on restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres, sports fixtures and other attractions
fell from 13.5% to 9% from 1 July.

The lower VAT rate will run until December 2013.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14394227