Ryanair reveals soaring ‘dirty’ tax bill
Pollution seen from an unknown aircraft over the UK
Ryanair expects to pay €630 million in ‘environmental’ taxes this year, 17% more than in 2018.
It says it has published the figure in order to dispel the myth that airlines don’t pay any environmental taxes.
By far the largest figure is an estimated €383 million for UK air passenger duty, a year-on-year increase of €50 million. In contrast, it expects to pay only €85 million APD in Germany, down from €85 million this year, and €5 million in both Scandinavia and Austria.
The airline also expects to pay €150 million into the EU emissions trading scheme, up from €115 million in 2018.
The increases mean environmental taxes will cost €4.12 per passenger, or 11% of the ticket price, whereas in 2018 they accounted for 10%
Ryanair spokeman Kenny Jacobs said:"Ryanair is Europe’s greenest, cleanest major airline with the youngest fleet and highest load factors.
"Our CO2 per passenger/km for June 2019 is 66g, almost half the rate of other flag carrier European airlines. We are also publishing our environmental taxes to dispel the myth that airlines pay no environmental taxes.
"Ryanair paid over €540m in environment taxes in 2018 and will pay over €630m in 2019 (up 17%). This equates to €4.12 per passenger, which is 11% of Ryanair’s average air fare."
He added that Ryanair is investing more than $20 billion in a fleet of 210 new Boeing 737 ‘gamechanger’ aircraft which will carry 4% more passengers but cut fuel burn by 16%.
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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