The Government's proposed €10 air travel tax should be replaced with a 300km coastline tax so that western and southern airports flying to the UK are not discriminated against, says former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan.As part of the Budget, the Government included a €10 air tax on passengers travelling more than 300km from an Irish airport. Anyone flying within the 300km zone only has to pay €2. Mr Noonan told the Irish Independent newspaper he believes the 300km tariff should begin only when an outgoing flight from Ireland leaves the country's coastline.
As a result of the proposed tax, Shannon Airport will suffer far more than any other Irish airport, as the only route it has within 300km is Dublin, which accounts for a tiny proportion of its passenger numbers. Dublin passengers benefit, within a 300km radius, with routes to UK airports and Irish airports.
