Ryanair Blames Air Tax For Closing Glasgow Airport Base.

Estimated 300 jobs to be lost as routes are transferred to Edinburgh.

Europe’s biggest budget airline is to close its base at Glasgow in November. Ryanair will move the aircraft that currently operates five routes across to the arch rival airport, Edinburgh. It is blaming Air Passenger Duty (APD), the £13 tax on all departing passengers aged 16 or over.

The airline’s chief commercial officer, David O’Brien said: “Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of APD.” The £13 tax represents about one-third of Ryanair's average fare.



By Simon Calder.
Full story at Independent.