Islanders ‘stunned’ at withdrawal of Aer Arann service

The Government has been accused of ignoring the concerns and wishes of Aran Islands residents by withdrawing the air service contract for the islands from Aer Arann.

Earlier this week, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Joe McHugh announced that Executive Helicopters, based in Woodford, Co Galway, was the “preferred tenderer” for a four-year air service agreement.

The company will offer daily return flights by helicopter between the islands and Galway Airport from October to September 2019, ending the Aer Árann Islands which has operated uninterrupted since 1970.