Swann urges Chancellor to cut flight tax amid concerns over passengers and airline investment lost to Dublin

Robin Swann MP & Ulster Unionist Party Airport District Electoral Area representative Ryan Kirkpatrick at Belfast International Airport

Saturday 24 October 2026

A call to scrap or substantially reduce Air Passenger Duty (APD) on flights leaving Northern Ireland has been made ahead of the upcoming UK Budget, amid concerns that the tax is putting local airports at a competitive disadvantage against Dublin.

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging HM Treasury to consider abolishing the charge or introducing substantial, gradual reductions to help attract new airline routes, investment and jobs.

The intervention follows a meeting involving Mr Swann, Ulster Unionist Party Airport District Electoral Area representative Ryan Kirkpatrick and management at Belfast International Airport.

Mr Swann says all three of Northern Ireland’s commercial airports support reform of APD, arguing that the current arrangements make it harder to compete for passengers and airline investment.

Competition from Dublin Airport

Air Passenger Duty is a UK tax charged on passengers departing from airports, with rates varying according to the destination and class of travel. Although paid by airlines, the cost can be reflected in ticket prices.

Mr Swann argues that Northern Ireland faces a different competitive environment from airports elsewhere in the UK because passengers and airlines can choose Dublin Airport, where there is no equivalent passenger departure tax.

Speaking after writing to the Chancellor, he said:

“This is not about asking for special treatment or an unfair advantage over other parts of the United Kingdom. It is about establishing a fair playing field.

“Due to our geography on the island, our local airports do not compete with regional airports in Great Britain. Instead, they compete directly with Dublin Airport, which operates free of any equivalent air passenger tax and benefits from significant state support.

“This ongoing imbalance places Northern Ireland at a huge competitive disadvantage, driving over two million local passengers and substantial commercial airline investment south across the border every year.”

The figure of more than two million passengers is cited by Mr Swann in support of his argument for reform.

Potential impact on routes and local jobs

The South Antrim MP believes reducing or removing APD could encourage airlines to base more aircraft in Northern Ireland and introduce additional international services.

He argues that improved air connectivity would also benefit the wider economy, particularly businesses relying on tourism, hospitality and international travel.

For Belfast International Airport, located in Mr Swann’s constituency near Antrim, the debate has particular significance because of its role in connecting Northern Ireland with destinations across the UK and overseas.

Mr Swann said:

“Removing or gradually reducing APD would incentivise airlines to base additional aircraft in Northern Ireland, launch new international routes, and deliver a major boost to our tourism and hospitality sectors.

“The resulting economic activity and creation of high-quality local jobs would generate tax revenues that would repay the Treasury and then some within a short timeframe. Unlocking the full potential of our airports is vital for future growth, and I strongly urge the Chancellor to act in the upcoming Budget.”

Treasury urged to act in upcoming Budget

Mr Swann's proposal would require a decision by the UK Government, with the Chancellor being asked to consider either full abolition or a phased reduction in the tax.

His argument is that any loss of revenue from APD could ultimately be offset by additional economic activity and tax receipts generated through increased aviation investment, tourism and employment. However, the financial benefits outlined in his letter remain projections rather than established outcomes.

No Treasury commitment to the proposed changes has been confirmed in the supplied statement.

The upcoming Budget will therefore be a key opportunity to establish whether the Government intends to address the tax difference between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with potential implications for future airline investment, passenger choice and the development of new routes.