Ryanair slashes flights at Dublin and Shannon

Ryanair is cutting back winter capacity at Dublin and Shannon, blaming the Government’s €10 tourist tax, or Air Passenger Duty.

It is removing one aircraft at each airport, falling from 17 to 16 aircraft at Dublin and from four to three at Shannon.

This will mean the loss of 44 flights per week and 350 jobs at Dublin and a further 36 flights per week and 300 jobs at Shannon.

In the first five months of 2009 traffic at Dublin has fallen by 11%, Ryanair claimed.

It warned that further cuts in winter flight and traffic numbers will be announced in the coming months if the Government fails to scrap the tax.

But it said these winter cutbacks can be reversed if the tax is scrapped.

“The Irish Government’s €10 tou rist tax is “tourism suicide” which is devastating visitor numbers and jobs.” Said Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary.

“Price sensitive visitors are switching to lower cost destinations in Europe where governments welcome tourists, not tax them.”

By Bev Fearis