Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny TD has expressed his concern at the recent falls in passenger numbers experienced at Aer Lingus and Ryanair and the damage being inflicted on passenger numbers by the air travel departure tax that is proving to be disastrous for Irish tourism and business. Recently, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor declared that the tax would encourage falling numbers of airport users. County Mayo is fortunate enough to have the facility of Ireland West Airport Knock, however, this departure tax may lead to falling numbers at the airport, said Dep Kenny.
The Fine Gael leader added: “The Fianna Fail/Green government must realise that this departure tax will hurt regional areas and passenger numbers. Both of the main Irish airlines have expressed their critical views on this tax and even international credit rating agencies have commented on the negative effects of this tax. I believe that this tax has an especially unfair effect on airports such as Knock and it is unfortunate that this tax is compounding the effects of the current economic climate through the falling passenger numbers being experienced by the various airlines. This will undoubtedly have an impact on tourism numbers visiting our country, with particular reference to the west of Ireland.”
