Ryanair says to cut 650 more jobs in Ireland

"Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Wednesday said it would cut 650 more jobs in Ireland, blaming the move on government hikes in taxes amid a deep recession in the eurozone member nation. 'Ryanair, Ireland's largest airline, today announced cuts in its winter based aircraft, flights and jobs at Dublin and Shannon Airports as the government's 10 euro (8.5 pound) tourist tax continues to devastate Irish traffic and tourism,' the carrier said in a statement. 'In the first five months of 2009, traffic at Dublin Airport has fallen by 11 percent, a loss of one million passengers in just five months,' it added. 'If this traffic collapse continues for the full year it will mean the loss of 2.5 million passengers, 2,500 jobs at Dublin Airport and 750 million euros of tourism spend in the Irish economy in 2009.'"