Aer lingus calls on government to drop travel tax

Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington has written to the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan requesting that the government drop the €10 travel tax which was introduced in last October's budget. Mr. Barrington said that it was his strong belief that the tax was costing the country dear and that it posed the possibility of route cuts at the airline next winter. Aer Lingus has written to the government on two previous occasions but the latest letter has the most ominous warning yet. In his letter Mr. Barringtonsays that the tax is having a 'significant bearing' on the ability of the airline to operate a full schedule next winter with advance bookings and projected returns well behind those of previous winters. The routes reportedly most at risk are long haul routes including Dublin to Washington and San Fransisco and all routes out of Shannon.