Ahern asks for urgent Aer Lingus impact study

AN Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday made a dramatic intervention in the crisis in the mid-west region caused by Aer Lingus’s ending of its Shannon to Heathrow service.

Mr Ahern, who is due to return from holiday tomorrow, asked a group of senior officials at the weekend to urgently examine the ramifications of the Aer Lingus decision.

In what amounted to his first public involvement in the controversy, Mr Ahern said he wants the officials to evaluate the impact of the transfer of Heathrow slots from Shannon Airport to Belfast.