US carrier adds second daily transatlantic flight

SHANNON Airport’s transatlantic services receive a timely boost tomorrow with US carrier Continental commencing a second daily flight to Newark.

The service will add 25,000 seats a year to Shannon’s transatlantic capacity.

Martin Moroney, director of Shannon Airport, said: “This is a significant development for Continental Airlines and Shannon. Our eight-year partnership has played a major role in the development of business and tourism in the West of Ireland.”

He said the extended service provides reassurance to Shannon’s future in the transatlantic market.

At present airlines have to operate one-for-one transatlantic flights at Dublin and Shannon, but this requirement will be lifted under the open skies deal between the US and the EU.

Groups such as IBEC have warned that a loss of transatlantic flights at Shannon would drive US industries out of the Mid-West.

However, the employers body also said the open skies arrangement opened up new opportunities for Shannon.

Mr Moroney said Continental’s network allows Shannon passengers the possibility of travelling to 150 US destinations through the airline’s Newark hub.