Irish Budget introduces Air Travel Tax

The Irish 2009 Budget announced on 14 October 2008 that an Air Travel Tax would be introduced from 30 March 2009. The general rate applying will be €10 per passenger with a lower rate of €2 for shorter air journeys (those under 300 kms). The tax will be payable by the appropriate airport authority to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of passengers departing from Irish airports. In effect the airport authority will collect the tax from the airlines.

Even before the official announcement, on 13 October 2008 Ryanair was reacting to accurate speculation about the tax and followed up with a further statement on 17 October.