Regional airports petition Lenihan over tax

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan is being petitioned by five regional airports to abolish the €10 travel tax in the regions to protect their viability.

In a joint statement, Knock, Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Waterford airports said they were strongly opposed to the tax outlined in the recent budget, describing it as inequitable and a retrograde step.

They said it would have serious consequences for the tourism and aviation industries, as well as for companies reliant on air travel from regional airports to sustain and develop their businesses and the local economy.