Transport Department denies deal to drop Shannon stopover
Transport sources insisted yesterday that the deal had been completed and would be presented to the EU Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels next June.
But Transport Minister Seamus Brennanâs spokesman rejected this claim yesterday and said it would not be up to Ireland to negotiate any separate deal with the US aviation authorities.
The EU Commission is most likely to get a mandate from EU Transport Ministers in June to negotiate on a new transatlantic flight deal on behalf of all 15 member states.
âBut Minister Brennan will be insisting beforehand that a special case has to be made for Shannon that will secure its future before agreeing to drop the stopover,â his spokesman said.
Ireland is one of the few EU countries that does not already enjoy an Open Skies deal with the US because of our bilateral agreement with that country.
This effectively forces all US airlines to make as many landings in Shannon as Dublin and in return Aer Lingus are limited to using just five airports in the United States.
US stopovers are worth about 500,000 to Shannon every year but Minister Brennan has pledged that the Midwest airport will not be abandoned if they are dropped.
Minister Brennan said Shannon will get EU regional development funds as well as opportunities for new business if the stopover is dropped.
His department has been in contact with the EU Commission and Minister Brennan said he believes they understand the regional importance of Shannon.
Aer Lingus wants a complete Open Skies deal with the United States in return for dropping the Shannon stopover.
âWe just want a level playing pitch. All US airlines can fly anywhere in Europe at the moment we want a similar deal,â the Aer Lingus spokesman said.
The airline also believes the bilateral deal is anti-competitive.
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