Debate contribution: United States of America: Air Link
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- United States of America: Air Link
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5774381
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. Members will be aware that the Derry to Dublin air service was a New Decade, New Approach commitment and that both Governments committed to supporting its development. Unfortunately, the British Government have doubled down on their position in refusing to exempt the route from air passenger duty. I have engaged with the Secretary of State for Transport on a number of occasions. I am concerned about the application of APD to the route, which will be applied only to the Derry to Dublin leg of the route and not the other way round. My understanding is that the Irish Government intend to treat it as a public service obligation (PSO). The argument that I have made to the British Government is that that is what it is intended to be, exactly like the Derry to Heathrow route, which is a PSO. APD will add cost to that leg of the route. In my view, APD, particularly short-haul APD, on an island is an unfair tax. That is why we continue to make the case to the British Government for its removal.
188 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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