Ahern to raise Aer Lingus routes with Bush

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is to come to the rescue of Aer Lingus in assisting it to open three routes into the US from the autumn.

An Open Skies agreement negotiated with the US by the EU would allow Aer Lingus to expand its destinations, but Britain is threatening to scupper it.

Mr Ahern said he will not wait for this to happen but will raise the issue with US President George W Bush when he meets him for the annual St Patrick’s day visit to the White House.

“Aer Lingus is confident that if they can get into these three locations they can fill these planes. I am fighting for the Irish economy,” he said.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fear the deal will operate against their privileged position at Heathrow airport. Britain has over 40% of the EU-US market.

EU transport ministers are to vote on the agreement on March 22 but Britain is expected to vote against it unless they get some sort of derogation for Heathrow.

The Taoiseach said Aer Lingus wants to get into three additional US airports, but they need to firm this up quickly ahead of drawing up their autumn schedules.

“I have spoken to Aer Lingus about this. It’s about utilising their aircraft. A deal will be good for Ireland’s economy, for business, for tourism and for Aer

Lingus,” he said.

Aer Lingus has been planning three new routes to San Francisco, Dallas and Miami for some time and recently bought several new Airbus planes to add to their fleet. Half of their profit comes from the transatlantic route.

Under the Open Skies deal and a bilateral agreement reached between Ireland and the US in 2005, the Shannon stopover is due to be phased out by next year.

Aer Lingus and other European airlines that have been severely curtailed from flying to US destinations will be free to expand. US airlines United and Continental are also believed to be planning new US-Irish routes.

EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, who helped broker the deal said it represented a major change in the balance of power between the two blocs, which between them account for 60% of the world’s aviation traffic. He estimated the deal would be worth up to €12 billion and create up to 80,000 jobs, half of them in the EU. It would generate an extra 26 million passengers over the next five years, an increase of one-third, and help cut the price of air tickets.