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26/09/2011
Lifeline For New York Air Link
The Chancellor George Osborne has hinted that a deal on abolishing Air Passenger Duty that would exempt NI's only transatlantic route could be announced this week.
The cost of the tax has been threatening to kill off the daily service between Belfast and New York as it adds £60 to an economy fare and £120 to a business ticket, while the tax out of Dublin airport is just three euro.
Continental airlines fly from both airports and say they've been absorbing the tax cost in Belfast in order to avoid passengers simply opting for Dublin.
Commenting, the Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson Stewart Dickson said this morning that it's vital that strong action is taken by the Treasury on Air Passenger Duty to ensure that the Belfast-New York flight can be retained.
"Maintaining this air route is crucial to our economy and Alliance MP Naomi Long has been working very hard to try and protect this key link," he said.
"This air route is extremely important to attracting investment and to our tourism industry, and I call on the Chancellor George Osborne to take action regarding Air Passenger Duty to ensure the route can be safeguarded."
The Sinn Fein Enterprise Spokesperson, Phil Flanagan - the MLA for Fermanagh/South Tyrone - has also welcomed the proposed abolition of airport tax on long haul flights out of Belfast.
"We has strongly lobbied for an all-Ireland harmonisation of the tax regime including airport and corporation taxes. It is imperative that if we are to increase inward investment and maximise the tourist appeal from North America and elsewhere that we attract additional direct flights into Belfast International by removing travel barriers.
"With the current the tax costing £60 per passenger out of Belfast against €3 from Dublin it has put the only direct flight between Belfast and the US in jeopardy.
"Not only will the abolition of this airport duty protect the existing US route but it will assist the International Airport in its efforts to attract other transatlantic carriers," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
The cost of the tax has been threatening to kill off the daily service between Belfast and New York as it adds £60 to an economy fare and £120 to a business ticket, while the tax out of Dublin airport is just three euro.
Continental airlines fly from both airports and say they've been absorbing the tax cost in Belfast in order to avoid passengers simply opting for Dublin.
Commenting, the Alliance Regional Development Spokesperson Stewart Dickson said this morning that it's vital that strong action is taken by the Treasury on Air Passenger Duty to ensure that the Belfast-New York flight can be retained.
"Maintaining this air route is crucial to our economy and Alliance MP Naomi Long has been working very hard to try and protect this key link," he said.
"This air route is extremely important to attracting investment and to our tourism industry, and I call on the Chancellor George Osborne to take action regarding Air Passenger Duty to ensure the route can be safeguarded."
The Sinn Fein Enterprise Spokesperson, Phil Flanagan - the MLA for Fermanagh/South Tyrone - has also welcomed the proposed abolition of airport tax on long haul flights out of Belfast.
"We has strongly lobbied for an all-Ireland harmonisation of the tax regime including airport and corporation taxes. It is imperative that if we are to increase inward investment and maximise the tourist appeal from North America and elsewhere that we attract additional direct flights into Belfast International by removing travel barriers.
"With the current the tax costing £60 per passenger out of Belfast against €3 from Dublin it has put the only direct flight between Belfast and the US in jeopardy.
"Not only will the abolition of this airport duty protect the existing US route but it will assist the International Airport in its efforts to attract other transatlantic carriers," he said.
(BMcC/GK)
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