Ryanair credit card charge can be avoided

IN response to Nick Folley’s letter headlined ‘Ryanair credit card charge no help to tourism’ (February 22), I wish to clarify that Ryanair’s credit card fees are avoidable simply by paying with the widely available MasterCard Prepaid.

Millions of Ryanair passengers use MasterCard Prepaid to book our guaranteed lowest fares and our commitment to lowering the cost of travel will see Ryanair grow by seven million passengers this year to 73 million.

However, the Government’s €10 travel tax is not avoidable, nor is the Government-owned DAA monopoly’s departure charge of €15.

Therefore, every tourist visiting this country must pay €25 to the Government just for the right to leave. This makes Ireland uncompetitive and unattractive at a time when other European airports and Governments are reducing fees, taxes and charges to stimulate traffic and tourism.

This insane government policy of targeting tourists’ wallets before they even get to Ireland will see Irish passenger traffic fall by four million this year to less than 20 million.

It is clear that avoidable charges do not affect passenger traffic, as price-sensitive passengers just avoid them, while unavoidable taxes and fees clearly drive passengers away.

Stephen McNamara

Head of Communications

Ryanair

Dublin Airport