Workers warn against US flights cutback

AS Shannon yesterday reported record passenger numbers on transatlantic flights during 2005, airport workers’ lobby group Signal warned against any reduction in Shannon/US flights when the Open Skies agreement kicks in.

Signal said the Aer Lingus commitment to provide 400,000 seats on its transatlantic services under Open Skies was insufficient.

Open Skies involves a new agreement being finalised between the US and the EU to open up more routes between Europe and North America, freeing airlines from existing flight arrangements.

At present, airlines flying between Ireland and the US have to provide one flight out of Shannon for every one out of Dublin.

Open Skies would abolish this requirement, and Shannon workers fear Aer Lingus will concentrate on Dublin at the expense of Shannon.

Figures released yesterday showed that last year a record 713,000 passengers travelled on Shannon transatlantic flights, with Aer Lingus carrying about 500,000. It represented a 3% increase on 2004.

Signal spokesman Joe Buckley warned yesterday that the 400,000 seat commitment with Open Skies, given by Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion on a recent visit to the airport, was not sufficient.

He said: “The fact you offer 400,000 seats does not mean you will carry that number of passengers. Not alone must Aer Lingus retain its existing level of transatlantic service at Shannon, but it must also give Shannon one of the three new destinations which will be open to the airline in the US with the advent of Open Skies.

“Shannon must get a significant amount of new transatlantic business which will result from Open Skies, otherwise the airport and the entire Western Region will suffer. If we don’t add to what we have, it will be a huge blow to the airport and the region. This is something that requires a lot of careful thought by the Government.”

He also criticised Aer Lingus for failing to capitalise on the European market since Ryanair had opened a raft of new European routes out of Shannon with great success.

Mr Buckley said it was disappointing Aer Lingus operates just one route out of Shannon to London Heathrow.

“Ryanair have proven the business is there and the market research as such has been done,” Mr Buckley said.