Labour Party councillor Harry Barrett has renewed calls on Ireland West Airport Knock to drop the development charge for passengers, in light of the reduction in airport taxes announced in the budget. He is asking that management should begin by scrapping the €10 charge on children between the ages of 12 and 18 years.
“Now that the Government has reduced airport tax, when are they going to remove this ridiculous, unwarranted, €10 tax charged to each person leaving Mayo via Knock airport,” Cllr Barrett said. “It’s bad enough that young folk have to leave, without having to pay for the privilege. I am now calling on the management of Ireland West Airport Knock to begin by dropping the departure fee on children who are between the ages of 12 and 18 years.
“Further developments can still take place without charging children, who are not wage earners, for the privilege of using an airport that is part funded by the State,” he added. “I have travelled to similar airports in poorer parts of Europe, and this charge on children does not apply.”
Cllr Barrett said that he knows that the management of the airport are doing a good job but he believes they could drop this particular charge.
“The management of Ireland West Airport Knock has done a tremendous job, making it Ireland’s fourth international airport, nonetheless it has, and still receives, huge support from the taxpayer, which I am glad to see that it uses to great effect, and is a shining example of how the State can intervene to help a private venture. Airport management, however, must move with the times and must realise that its young customers cannot be asked to pay such a ridiculous amount of money on top of their flight costs for the privilege of using a State funded airport.”
