5th Feb 2015 11:21
LONDON (Alliance News) - Low cost airline Ryanair Holdings PLC Thursday said it welcomed the EU General Court's decision to annul the European Commission's 2012 decision on Irish air travel tax, which means it does not have to pay the Irish State roughly EUR12 million in respect of the Air Travel Tax between 2009 and 20011.
The Irish Air Travel Tax between 2009 and 2011 was set at EUR10 for flights departing Irish airports and landing more than 300 kilometres from Dublin Airport, and at EUR2 for flights departing Irish airports and landing less than 300 kilometres from Dublin Airport.
The European Commission decided in 2012 that Ryanair, Aer Lingus Group PLC and Aer Arann should pay the Irish State EUR8 in respect of each passenger who was subject to the EUR2 Air Travel Tax rate during that period.
However, the EU General Court Thursday annulled the European Commission's 2012 decision on Irish air travel tax. The EU General Court said it found that the European Commission "erred in concluding that the "advantage" enjoyed by the airlines automatically amounted in all cases to EUR8".
"We welcome today's ruling which confirms that Ryanair is not required to pay the Irish State approximately EUR12 million in respect of the Air Travel Tax paid at a lower (EUR2) rate between 2009 and 2011," said Ryanair's Head of Communication Robin Kiely in a statement.
Ryanair shares were trading up 0.9% before midday Thursday at EUR9.98 per share.
By Rowena Harris-Doughty; [email protected]; @rharrisdoughty
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