BMI Regional has said Westminster should follow Dublin in reassessing air tax on passengers, following the Irish government’s decision to drop its version of Air Passenger Duty from next April.
Industry lobby group A Fair Tax on Flying made a similar plea following the move in Ireland.
The Irish transport, tourism and sport minister Leo Varadkar believes the cut will “support existing jobs and invest in further job creation”.
BMI Regional chief commercial officer Steve Hoy said: “This tax break highlights that the Irish constituency has recognised the negative impact that the duty has on core industry, tourism and airlines.
“We’re disappointed that UK air travel continues to be subjected to such a considerable levy and urge the UK government to follow suit.”
He added: “There is no doubt that air travel is an essential part of doing business within the UK and overseas and for some regions within the UK, air links represent the only efficient means of travel. APD therefore is a further tax on doing business.”
“The anomaly whereby customers on a domestic round trip pay the tax twice is ironic in that it penalises those doing business or travelling between two regions of the UK. We would like to see the government reassess the current system of taxation.”