Major US troop carrier to end flights through Shannon

The largest airline involved in transporting US soldiers through Ireland is reportedly planning to pull out of Shannon Airport next month.

Reports this morning said World Airways was planning to make all refuelling stops in the German city of Liepzig from July 1.

The move will be welcomed by peace activists who have been campaigning for years for the Government to ban US military flights through Shannon.

However, it will be a disappointment for local business interests - it will reportedly result in the loss of three flights carrying 750 US military personnel every day.

Shannon is believed to have earned around €100m by facilitating hundreds of US military flights since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.