Aer Lingus cuts - Mid-west must not be deserted

THE bleak news that Aer Lingus wants to cut more than 100 jobs at Shannon will further undermine the confidence of the beleaguered mid-west region.

With the airport on the verge of going it alone when the Government finally breaks up Aer Rianta, the State-owned airport group, the job cuts have copper-fastened local perceptions that it is withdrawing from Shannon.

Like it or not, there is a growing feeling Aer Lingus is not interested in the airport’s future. Under pressure to cut costs, it is targeting the servicing and handling of company planes and those of other airlines at Shannon. However, critics claim it is consolidating all of its activities in Dublin.