Axing US flights ‘will cost tourism €200m’

TOURISM spend will take as much as a €200 million hit following a decision by Aer Lingus to axe routes to America from Shannon and Dublin.

The decision by the airline to cut the number of seats on long-haul routes by 25% this winter will mean 250,000 less visitors to Ireland, according to airline analyst Joe Gill.

Tourism Ireland said latest figures available show the average spend per US visitor here is €800, meaning €200m less could be spent in Ireland this winter.