The Commission for Aviation Regulation has decided to reduce air traffic control charges by 40% between January 2012 and December 2015.
The charges are levied for air traffic control services used by planes landing and taking off from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. They are separate from the DAA's airport charges.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation said the cuts will comprise an initial price reduction of around 25% on 2011 levels, followed by a 6% cut in each of the following years until 2015
The Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar, this evening welcomed the decision to cut air traffic control charges. He said the move will help reduce operating costs for airlines.
"Lower costs for airlines, even marginal ones, will help efforts to encourage more visitors to Ireland and build on the tourism-promotion measures in the jobs initiative,'' he said.
He added that he is working with the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the DAA to bring about a reduction in airport charges.
