Ryanair: Travel tax responsible for loss of numbers at Dublin Airport
Ryanair has today urged the Government to drop its €10 travel tax.
The airline said that Dublin Airport’s August traffic fell by 15% - a loss of 364,000 passengers in one month - as a direct result of the tax.
Ryanair said that its August traffic grew by 19% - more than one million additional passengers more than August 2008.
"Dublin Airport is now on track to lose three million passengers this year," said Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara.
"The Irish Government should follow the example of the Belgian and Dutch - stop taxing tourists, and start welcoming them.
"Ryanair has already announced the removal of two more aircraft from Dublin and Shannon this winter. Irish traffic, tourism and job losses will continue to collapse if the Government fails to 'axe the tourist tax'.".
