BERLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Germany decided late on

Thursday to reduce air traffic tax from July, down to May 2024

levels, in an attempt to boost the aviation sector.

International airlines have long complained that flying to and

from German airports was too expensive and threatened to reduce

their presence there

* German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet in April

approved plans to reduce air traffic tax from July, down to May

2024 levels, in an attempt to boost the aviation sector.

* The move fulfils a pledge in the coalition deal between

Merz's conservatives and Social Democrats to reverse a 2024 tax

increase made by previous government

* The duty is imposed on airlines at German airports, on top

of airport charges and fees

* The tax will be reduced by €2.50 ($2.91) per ticket for

short-haul flights, €6.33 for medium-haul, €11.40 for long-haul

* Takes effect from July 1

* Cost to federal government will be around 170 million

euros for second half of this year and 355 million euros in

subsequent years

($1 = 0.8604 euros)

(Writing by Ludwig Burger, editing by Kirsti Knolle)