It seems Ireland is seeing the benefits of its low passenger duty fees – so much so, from April 2014 the current €3 levy will be DROPPED COMPLETELY.
There are full details in the Irish Budget with commentary at http://insideireland.ie/2013/10/16/tourism-and-transport-budget-news-roundup-welcome-for-retention-of-9-vat-rate-102347/
This compares with Northern Ireland who limit APD to £13, and the mainland United Kingdom which seems to want to open your wallet and scream.
Diverting via Ireland is a favourite pastime of mine as it costs £30 to fly over the water, and then pocket the savings along the rest of the route. In particular, if flying to the United States – you can also pre-clear immigration there.
Whilst most London passengers will suck up the extra cost, for those of us who depart from the rest of the United Kingdom (and yes, there is far more to the United Kingdom than London however much Londoners like to think otherwise), this could be a really go way to travel.
Even sucking up the £30 or so to get over the Irish Sea, and accounting connection times, you will be saving bucket loads of money if you have the time to play with.
As the Persian Gulf airlines move in too, with the lower costs they seem to work at, departing via Ireland becomes very low-cost option.
And yet, the UK Government insists Air Passenger Duty is the way forward, with a rise scheduled in 2014.
Really George Osborn – Chancellor of the Exchequer – is it the way forward – or is it costing the United Kingdom business and passenger cash?
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