The Air Travel Tax (Irish: Cáin Aerthaistil) was an Irish tax applied to flights departing from airports in Ireland.[1] It was introduced in the 2009 Budget. Until 28 February 2011, there were two rates of tax, €10 for each passenger flying to an airport more than 300 km (186 miles) from Dublin Airport, and €2 per passenger flying to any other airport within 300 km (186 miles).[2] As the differential rate was considered by the EU to be an interference with the internal market, this was changed to a flat rate of €3 from 1 March 2011. The tax was opposed by airlines and the tourism industry.[3] Transit passengers are excluded.
Initially the €10 tax was going to cover all flights over 300 km (186 miles), but this would have disadvantaged non-Dublin airports. Smaller airports are also excepted,[4] of which only one has any scheduled flights to begin with; as are planes with fewer than 20 passenger seats.
It was abolished in April 2014.[5]
