Victory in EU Court for Ryanair

Ryanair has won a victory in the European Union’s General Court regarding its complaint against Ireland’s air travel tax (ATT). The Court has partially annulled a Commission Decision declaring that the exemption of transfer and transit passengers from payment of the Irish air travel tax did not constitute State aid. The court stated that the Commission should have initiated the formal examination procedure in order to verify that such an exemption did not constitute State aid. Since 30 March 2009 airline operators must pay ATT in Ireland in respect of ‘every departure of a passenger on an aircraft from an