Chancellor announces overhaul of Northern Ireland flight tax

The direct long-haul rate of APD will fall to the lower short-haul rate - currently £12 per passenger in economy and £24 for business and first class passengers.

Continental Flight CO95 from Belfast International to New York/Newark will continue to operate, maintaining Northern Ireland's vital economic air link to North America, and Northern Ireland will gain a fresh opportunity to develop other long-haul routes to the rest of the world.

Announcing the move, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said:

"The Government has taken proactive measures to protect the only direct long-haul service operating from Northern Ireland and with it the jobs of those who serve the Belfast route.

Northern Ireland faces a unique challenge in attracting traffic - including very valuable business customers - into its airports.

By announcing this immediate cut and our intention to devolve aspects of APD, the UK Government is renewing its commitment to stimulating and rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy."

Northern Ireland's airports operate in unique circumstances within the UK. The land border with the Republic of Ireland, with its differential rates of air passenger tax had threatened to make long-haul flights from Belfast uneconomic.

To provide a lasting solution, the Government will launch a parallel process to devolve aspects of APD to the Northern Ireland Assembly, as a recognition of its unique circumstances.

The precise scope of devolution will be agreed in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive.