Removal of air traffic curbs urged

A LEADING tourism figure yesterday made an urgent call for the removal of barriers on air traffic between Ireland the US.

Irish Hotels' Federation (IHF) chief executive John Power said a new agreement allowing increased air routes from the US would bring in almost 100,000 extra visitors each year, generating €64 million.

At present, 15% of all overseas visitors to Ireland are from the US, and this could increase to nearer 20%, or an additional one-million visitors per annum, within the next five years.

He called on the Government to immediately commence renegotiation of the Ireland/US bilateral air agreement, in order to remove the current constraints. At the eve of its annual conference, in Killarney, the IHF also called on the Government to assist efforts to give the go-ahead to the development of an independent, competing second terminal at Dublin Airport, facilitating quick turnarounds for low-cost carriers.

Mr Power said it was imperative to target new air routes and new tourism markets if the national objective to increase the number of overseas visitors from six million to 10 million by 2012 was to be achieved.

"The current situation whereby there is restricted access for airlines to fly into and from the US and the lack of a second terminal at Dublin Airport have constrained the potential for growth," he claimed.

"The opportunity for US visitor market growth is critically reliant on increased air access. There is a huge need for a more open air transport agreement between Ireland and the US.

"There are immense opportunities to create new routes to Ireland from a range of US cities, but the current arrangements create barriers to the creation of such routes," he said.

Mr Power said areas such as Dallas, Orlando and San Francisco had large, untapped populations that would have an interest in visiting Ireland, but they could not easily get direct air travel.

"We need the Government to commence renegotiation of the air agreement now," he said.

The American market is vitally important to Irish tourism, last year accounting for 890,000 visitors, who contributed €750 million in revenue.

Between 1989 and 2002, 54% of all US visitors flew directly to Ireland while 46% came via Britain and mainland Europe. The trend for direct flights being selected by US visitors had grown steadily since 1995.

"There's high potential for further development as there is a definite correlation between increased demand and direct air access availability to Ireland.

"Between 1994 and 2000, US visitors increased by 114% and a key factor here was direct air access," said Mr Power.

Mr Power acknowledged that Shannon Airport would need to adjust to the outcome of such renegotiations on an air agreement, as the compulsory Shannon stopover would most likely be removed.

He recognised that Shannon would need time to adjust to the new arrangements and receive support to introduce new traffic development incentives.