Shauna Burns, MD;
“Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget yesterday which was overshadowed by emergency provisions in the Budget to support businesses affected by the threat of COVID-19, or the fear of the threat.
One notable absent change for businesses was no change to Air Passenger Duty (“APD”).
Northern Ireland businesses I can confirm are still travelling, and over the incoming weeks when COVID-19 is contained businesses will travel more again. But we in NI really needed this incentive to help get replacements for the Flybe routes lost last week. Our clients are sending staff to Dublin to fly to the UK, due to the lack of capacity and the increased costs of flights.
A lost opportunity to improve connectivity for the NI economy, I would say.”