AIRLINE CUTBACKS:RYANAIR SAID yesterday that it would reduce its fleet of aircraft at Dublin airport this summer from 22 to 18 and cut 200 jobs as a result of the Government's decision to introduce a €10 air departure tax from the end of March.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said this would reduce Dublin airport’s passenger traffic by two million a year. The airline carried 10.8 million through Dublin in 2008.
This follows a decision last week to cut its services from Shannon airport – where it is taking two aircraft off its summer schedule – for the same reason. The four aircraft being removed from the Dublin schedule were originally mothballed during the winter months.
“If the travel tax is reversed by the Government then the job losses at Dublin will be reversed,” Mr O’Leary said. “This is entirely self-inflicted.”
Mr O’Leary’s described the decision, which was made in the October budget, as “insane”. He said he would be seeking pay cuts from staff of 5 to 10 per cent.