EU gives Shannon stop-over stay of execution

THE END of the Shannon stop-over and the freeing up of flights between Europe and the US is on hold after EU Transport Ministers refused to finalise a deal yesterday in Brussels.

The ministers, including Ireland’s Martin Cullen, said they needed clarity on the proposals worked out last month between representatives of the EU and the US transport authorities.

The deal on Shannon, where half of all US flights through Ireland must land at the County Clare airport, is planned to be phased out by 2008, starting late next year.