Ryanair: EU Court Ruling On Irish Air Travel Tax Welcomed

Ryanair, Europe’s favourite airline, today (5 Feb) welcomed the ruling of the EU General Court, which annulled the European Commission’s 2012 decision ordering that Ryanair pays the Irish State €8 for every passenger who paid a €2 rate of the Air Travel Tax between 2009 and 2011.

The Irish Air Travel Tax between 2009 and 2011 was set at €10 for flights departing Irish airports and landing more than 300km from Dublin Airport, and at €2 for flights departing Irish airports and landing less than 300km from Dublin Airport. The European Commission decided in 2012 that Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Aer Arann should pay the Irish State €8 in respect of each passenger who was subject to the €2 Air Travel Tax rate during that period.

The EU General Court today annulled the European Commission’s decision in this respect and found that the Commission erred in concluding that the “advantage” enjoyed by the airlines automatically amounted in all cases to €8.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“We welcome today’s ruling which confirms that Ryanair is not required to pay the Irish State approx. €12 million in respect of the Air Travel Tax paid at a lower (€2) rate between 2009 and 2011.”