Irish travel tax could hurt Edinburgh traffic

Monday, 13th July 2009

Industry experts are saying that the new air travel tax, introduced at the beginning of the current fiscal year by Ireland’s government, could easily influence whether tourists fly into Edinburgh or choose Glasgow instead – a cheaper option.

The amount of the tax is calculated on whether a destination is less 300km from Dublin, so passengers travelling to Edinburgh, which is not within that range, must pay a tax that is five times higher than that charged to passengers bound for Glasgow.

Edinburgh Airport’s managing director, Gordon Dewar, said: “With the economic downturn, we are all working hard to sustain the success of our city's tourism industry and to grow international visitor numbers.”

He went on to say: “However, the extra tax levied on those flying from Ireland to Edinburgh risks undermining the city's competitive position relative to other parts of the UK. We have raised these concerns with the Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council and I hope, that by working together, we can convince the Irish Government to change their position.”

← Airline passenger traffic continues to decline
→ Premium class travel may not fully recover
↑ July 2009 news index

Compare Airport Parking & Hotels