26 March 2009

Dutch flight tax axed

Easyjet and Ryanair have welcomed a decision by the Dutch government to axe its flights tax ââ¬' a version of the UKââ¬â¢s Air Passenger Duty

Ryanair called on the Irish and UK Governments to follow the example and scrap the Irish tourist tax and Gordon Brownââ¬â¢s Ã&#pound;10 airport tax.

It said European Governments cannot stimulate tourism by taxing visitors, but should welcome tourists by lowering Europeââ¬â¢s airport and ATC taxes

ââ¬ÅâœRyanair has campaigned against high airport tax and so called ââ¬Åâœecoââ¬~tax which deter visitors and has cost the Dutch tourism industry millions in lost revenue,ââ¬~ said Ryanairââ¬â¢s Daniel de Carvalho.

ââ¬ÅâœTourists have voted with their feet and turn their back on the Netherlands as a tourist destination. Todayââ¬â¢s decision to abolish this tax is a sensitive step to reverse the steep decline in traffic that the Netherlands has suffered.ââ¬~

Easyjet chief executive Andy Harrison said: ââ¬ÅâœThe Dutch Government has done the right thing to ensure that aviation has a future in The Netherlands

ââ¬ÅâœBut even after the tax is abolished, Schiphol will be Europeââ¬â¢s second most expensive airport ââ¬' more expensive than Paris, Frankfurt or Zurich.ââ¬~

He added: ââ¬ÅâœThe Dutch government has put the ball on the penalty spot; Schiphol must now convert the penalty and bring its cost in line with other major airports in Europe.

ââ¬ÅâœOnly if both conditions are met will airlines start investing in The Netherlands again.ââ¬~

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