American Airlines pulls its Dublin operations

DUBLIN Airport has been dealt another blow, with American Airlines deciding to pull its operations this winter.

The airline, which is the second biggest US carrier, will cease its Dublin to Chicago route in November for five months. It will resume the service at Dublin in March.

This is the first time the airline has pulled its winter service at Dublin. It generally operates a daily flight to Chicago in the summer and between five and six flights a week in the winter.

A spokesman for Dublin Airport confirmed the move yesterday.

The airline began flying the Chicago-Dublin route in May 2006. In 2007, however, it announced it was axing its Shannon to Chicago route.

This news comes as an Irish-owned aircraft maintenance firm announced it is to create 71 jobs at Dublin Airport.

Eirtech Aviation, which already has a base in Shannon, will take up some of the space once used by the SR Technics firm.

Batt O’Keeffe, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation made the announcement yesterday.