400,000 MORE PAX IN SCOTLAND, WHILE MINISTER VARADKAR “TALKS”
2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (4 Dec) announced 8 new routes and additional flights on 9 other routes from Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh airports in 2013, as it grows its traffic in Scotland by over 400,000 passengers, which is more than the entire visitor numbers expected by Ireland’s “Gathering” in 2013. These 400,000 new passengers at Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh will – according to ACI (Airport Council International) statistics – create and sustain 400 new jobs at two of Scotland’s main airports.
Scotland’s traffic and tourism growth in 2013 is more than the entire 350,000 new passengers forecast for Ireland’s “Gathering” in 2013, the PR stunt led by Minister Varadkar, under which millions of taxpayer funds are being wasted on adverts in the Irish newspapers and television to persuade Irish people who already live here to “visit” in 2013.
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
“While Minister Varadkar “talks”, Ryanair and Scotland grow. Scotland’s airports are lowering their charges in order to stimulate traffic, tourism and jobs growth in 2013 and Ryanair is responding with new routes and more flights.
By contrast here in Ireland, Minister Varadkar “talks” but does nothing about the DAA’s high and rising charges, all of which are controlled by Minister Varadkar. Instead of welcoming visitors to Ireland in 2013, Minister Varadkar is presiding over the air travel tax and double digit cost increases at Dublin Airport, Iarnrod Eireann’s rail fares and Bus Eireann’s bus fares, all of which are controlled by Minister Varadkar’s Department. Instead of welcoming visitors to Ireland next year, Minister Varadkar seems determined to screw them when they get here.
Ireland would be better served if Minister Varadkar stopped talking and started doing something like scrapping the travel tax and reversing the cost increases recently announced for 2013 by the DAA and CIE. While Scotland grows in 2013, Minister Varadkar remains the “Lyon’s tea” of Irish politics: all talk, no action.”
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