The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is being investigated by the Civil Aviation Department following claims by passengers that the airline was still charging Maltese departure tax after it was dropped on November 1.

"If true, Ryanair will have to pay back the tax collected," a department spokesman said, urging passengers facing such a charge to write immediately to the department. He said the airline had been contacted over the issue.

The same complaints have reached Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil who said that his office was also looking into the matter (see also page 8).

The €23 departure tax levied on all passengers originating from Malta was lifted after the European Commission declared it was discriminatory. Questions sent by The Times to Ryanair on Monday remained unanswered.

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