THE 11th hour lobbying assault by European duty free interests, anxious to retain the status quo, has so far been firmly rejected by the Commission. EU Internal Market Commissioner Mario Monti said this week that the reprieve must not be extended beyond June 30th, 1999. But the facility can only be ended if all 15 EU governments agree, and interest groups are now stepping, up their campaign in the hope of securing some defections and blocking unanimity.

Airport authorities point to the inevitability of higher landing charges, rising fares and job if the cash flow cow of duty free is led to the slaughter. Duty free sales for travel within the EU were to have ended in 1993 with the dropping of internal borders but the industry employing 100,000 workers and generating a combined annual turnover of £3.6 billion year won a six year stay of execution.

Aer Rianta, while still fighting its corner, has already tacitly accepted that the death knell has sounded for duty free. It, and other airport authorities, is investigating other revenue raising possibilities, should Brussels have its way.