ABTA has welcomed news that the Government may consider devolving the level of APD charged on short-haul flights out of Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland assembly.
The statement by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers said that if she received a request for devolution on the level of Air Passenger Duty on short haul flights out of Northern Ireland, she would consider it.
The power to set Air Passenger Duty levels for flights over 1,500 miles was devolved to the Northern Ireland assembly back in 2011.
The statement comes after the Republic of Ireland recently decided to abolish its aviation tax completely.
Stephen D’Alfonso, ABTA head of public affairs said: "ABTA has been working hard in NI and Westminster putting the case that APD is a regressive tax which does immense damage to the UK economy, with a particularly damaging impact being felt in Northern Ireland.
"The recent decision by the government in the Republic of Ireland to totally abolish their aviation tax will put Northern Ireland at a competitive disadvantage.
"The arguments for lowering or abolishing this tax in Northern Ireland, and the whole of the UK, are stronger than ever."
