Ryanair has confirmed six new routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, giving UK travellers more options for a European getaway this winter. The new services will connect the city with a mix of popular destinations, offering plenty of choice for those planning a festive break.
New routes from Liverpool
From this winter, Ryanair will fly from Liverpool to Milan Bergamo, Copenhagen, Gdańsk, Porto, Tirana and Warsaw. While most of these destinations are colder cities where festive activities will be at the top of the itinerary, Porto can offer some sunshine during the winter months.
O'Leary's tax warning
The routes were revealed as Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary launched his latest attack on taxation, threatening to withdraw services from UK airports to reduce his company's tax bill. The CEO claimed that holidaymakers face being "double taxed" under Labour's plans for a tourist levy on overnight stays, Liverpool Echo reports.
The Government has proposed giving regional leaders across large parts of England the power to introduce the charge to raise money for their local areas. Mr O'Leary argued it would add another tax for travellers who already pay air passenger duty (APD).
The levy is understood to have no proposed upper limit. However, Government sources suggested mayors were unlikely to set charges at a prohibitive level, with most indicating they would amount to a few per cent.
Call to abolish APD
Speaking at a press conference in London on Wednesday, the Ryanair chief executive said he did not oppose the plans outright, but called for APD to be abolished - something that would hugely benefit his company's balance sheet. He said: "We don't have any great fundamental philosophical difference with his regional tax, where you allow the regional mayors to add a tax on hotel nights, but that is a double tax on tourism. Abolish APD. You can't tax tourists on the way into the UK and then double tax them for the hotel night."
APD is levied on flights departing from most UK airports. Rates depend on the length of the flight and cabin class, and rose in April. Economy passengers are currently charged £8 for a domestic flight and £15 for a short-haul flight of up to 2,000 miles.
Mr O'Leary warned that Ryanair would consider moving some operations to "zero-tax, lower-cost destinations elsewhere in Europe" if the tourist levy plans went ahead. Given how large the UK market is, it's unclear how viable such a plan would be.
