Arbitrator appointed on Cork to US flights deadlock

An Italian professor — an expert in international law — is set to arbitrate for the EU in the transatlantic dispute over stalled plans to operate cheap flights from Ireland to the US.

Prof Giorgio Sacerdoti, who has worked on behalf of the World Bank and World Trade Organisation on the settlement of international disputes, was announced yesterday as the EU arbitrator in the case between the US and the EU over the unprecedented delay in Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) foreign carrier permit application.

Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune welcomed the news last night, describing Mr Sacerdoti as a “suitably qualified candidate”.