Brennan break-up bid gets boost with Shannon routes

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan's bid to break-up Aer Rianta has got a boost with Ryanair confirming it will launch new routes from Shannon to Europe providing the airport with two million extra passengers a year.

Mr Brennan is battling with Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy to proceed with his plan to set up three separate airport authorities at Shannon, Cork and Dublin before the summer Dail recess.

He also provided Mr McCreevy with a report over the weekend which shows that four UK airports similar in size to Shannon and Cork were profitable.