BERLIN, March 17 (Reuters) - Germany's government plans

to reduce air traffic duty from July, taking it back down to May

2024 levels in a boost to the aviation sector, a draft document

seen by Reuters showed on Tuesday.

International airlines had long complained that flying to

and from German airports was too expensive and threatened to

reduce their presence here.

* Government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives

and Social Democrats is fulfilling coalition deal commitment.

Details had been disputed

* Previous government had raised the tax in 2024 as it

sought to fill a budget gap

* Duty is part of costs paid by airlines at German airports,

along with airport charges and fees

* Aviation industry had warned the tax meant Germany would

fall behind other countries as an air hub

* Total cost to federal government will be around 1.5

billion euros by 2030

* Draft shows the reduction will be between 2.50 euros

($2.88) to 11.40 euros per passenger, depending on the distance

* For passengers to feel benefit, airlines will have to pass

on reductions

($1 = 0.8668 euros)