Ryanair blames tourist tax for cutting flights to Germany

Ryanair today blamed a German tourist tax for its decision to axe 34 routes from its schedule next summer.

Flights connecting Liverpool to Bremen and Birmingham to Dusseldorf are among those to be scrapped as a result of Germany's 8 tax on flights, which comes into effect at the start of January. Flights between Kerry in Ireland and Dusseldorf will also be stopped.

The budget airline said its decision to make "deep cuts" to its business in Germany will cost an estimated 3,000 jobs across the industry and reduce the number of passengers it flies in the country by three million a year.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary urged the German government to rethink the tax, which he said would damage the country's economy.

He said Ryanair would move its bases to a more tourist friendly country and called on Germany to follow the example set by Ireland, which last week announced it would reduce its tourist tax from 10 to 3 in March.

O'Leary said: "The German government's 8 tourist tax continues to inflict significant damage on traffic, tourism and jobs.

"International experience shows that tourist taxes caused a large traffic and tourism collapse in both Ireland and the UK and we believe that this ill-advised tax will inflict similar damage to German tourism and jobs."

The UK increased its air passenger duty at the start of last month. The levy on flights of up to 2,000 miles including those to Europe increased 9% to £11, while flights of between 2,000 and 4,000 miles including those to Egypt and America increased 33% to £60.

The levy on journeys of between 4,000 and 6,000 miles increased 50% to £75, and passengers on flights of more than 6,000 miles must pay £85, a 55% increase.