‘Corporate clients will simply go elsewhere’

LUCRATIVE corporate events will be a significant casualty of the loss of Heathrow flights from Shannon, say events organisers in the region.

The University of Limerick fills its campus in summer with conferences and seminars. Its conference and events manager Kate Sheahan said attracting business depends on the ease with whichpeople can reach theirdestination.

“A huge factor in being able to promote the university to international clients is that there such a great link at Shannon Airport,” she said.

The seminar Ms Sheahan referred to will attract 2,000 people to the university next summer.

She said high-spending corporate clients from around the world are likely to go elsewhere if getting to Shannon Airport is not convenient.

John Fitzgerald, manager of Fun Ireland events management, said pitching tenders to potential clients will be almost impossible if there is no easy link to Heathrow.

A survey of its business after Tuesday’s announcement by Aer Lingus revealed more than a third of its clients had come through Heathrow.

“For people to think of Dublin as an alternative is wrong. If you come from Dublin, you are adding an extra flight and people have to board another flight for 45 minutes.

“Companies are simply not going to do that. If you look at our clients it is large international companies who will bring investment to the area but access is the big thing,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

Hoteliers in the region said the loss of business travellers would compromise the off-season viability of the sector.