Republic of Ireland to scrap air tax
The Republic of Ireland is to scrap its air travel tax in a move which politicians and business groups fear will have an adverse impact on airports north of the border.
The tax, which had been €3 per passenger, will be abolished next April.
In Northern Ireland, air passenger duty is £13 per passenger, although air tax on long-haul flights has already been abolished over earlier fears that APD was threatening the future of Northern Ireland’s services to New York.
The NI Chamber of Commerce told the BBC that it was "concerned" the Republic of Ireland’s decision to abolish air tax would "further damage Northern Ireland’s connectivity".
Belfast International Airport told the news channel: "Any tax or regulation prevailing in Northern Ireland which makes our gateways less attractive than those across the border is entirely retrograde with regard to economic development."
However, George Best Belfast City Airport said it didn’t believe scrapping the tax would encourage many passengers to travel over the border for cheap flights.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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