EU plans to severely limit duty free sales

IRISH duty free sales are to be severely reduced by European Commission plans to divert duty free sales away from smaller regional airports to the main EU hub airports in a move that could lead to huge financial losses for the airports.

The Commission Excise Duty proposal would restrict passengers to purchasing duty free goods in only the final airport of departure before leaving the EU.

Irish MEP Colm Burke, who is campaigning against this move, claimed the legislation would cause job losses at all the country’s regional airports including Cork and Shannon.