Budget airline blames government for staff cuts

Budget airline Ryanair is to axe 200 staff in Dublin – the second massive jobs blow to hit Ireland today.

Blaming the Government's tourist tax, the carrier said it will take four aircraft out of the base and dramatically reduce the number of flights this summer.

The cuts will affect pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

Earlier, aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics revealed that 1,135 workers were being laid off after management lost several key contracts with airlines in the last year.

Ryanair chief Micheal O'Leary said: "This Government must realise you can only promote tourism by welcoming visitors, not taxing them."

Last week, the airline announced 100 job cuts at its Shannon base in the west of Ireland and also warned the knock-on effect could see another 700 support staff axed.

Mr O'Leary said airlines operating at Dublin Airport were being hit hard by high costs and would be hit again when the 10 euro (£8.94) tourist tax kicks in at the end of March.

"The decision by the Irish Government to introduce a flat rate 10 euro tourist tax from April is nothing less than 'tourism suicide'," he said.

"This travel tax when introduced (appropriately on April Fools Day) will exacerbate the traffic decline at Dublin, as price sensitive visitors will avoid Ireland and choose other lower cost destinations."

The airline said it would announce further cuts to its winter schedule later in the year.