‘Malta Shouldn’t Be Penalised’: Ryanair CEO Reiterates Calls For Scrapping Of Aviation Tax On EU Flights
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has once again called for the scrapping of eco-tax on intra-Europe flights, explaining that countries on the periphery of the continent are at an unfair disadvantage.
“Countries like Malta, Greece and Ireland shouldn’t be unfairly penalised and taxed,” he said during a press conference in Msida earlier this morning.
O’Leary has been an avid objector of the European Union’s attempt to impose aviation tax on member states. The European Commission has been battling with member states over a proposed tax range for the aviation and maritime sectors – which currently enjoy a tax exemption – outlined in its Fit for 55 package which intends to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. States like Malta and Cyprus strongly oppose taxing aviation mainly due to their statuses as island-nations which make air travel an essential aspect of free movement.
O’Leary echoed this argument earlier today saying that central European countries like Germany and Denmark can rely on trains to travel whereas states like Malta and Ireland rely on air travel for basic free movement.
O’Leary concluded by calling on the EU to “increase competitiveness, scrap aviation tax and reform the ATC system” which is the primary cause for flight delays.
Over the last three years, Europe’s ATC fees have risen by 21% while staffing and service levels continue to decline, causing major delays and cancellations of Ryanair flights across Europe.
Last week, Ryanair announced that it is axing all flights to and from Aalborg Airport in Denmark from the end of March. Meaning the country will lose 1.7 million seats and 32 routes for the summer, the budget airline said. Ryanair has also confirmed that it will close its base at Billund, another destination in Denmark, where it has two aircraft.
Speaking to Lovin Malta last year, O’Leary said that aviation tax “will have no impact on the fight against climate change”, arguing that new technology aircraft is the only sustainable way forward.
What are your thoughts on imposing an aviation tax on countries like Malta?
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