Aer Lingus boss defends move to axe route

Aer Lingus boss Dermot Mannion today insisted the decision to reroute its Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast will not be changed.

The airline’s chief executive said he believed business and tourism leaders in the region were exaggerating the effects the move would have on the west coast.

However, he agreed to meet with key local interest groups in the coming week to explain the rationale behind airline’s decision.

Although acknowledging the Government’s disappointment at this week’s announcement, Mr Mannion said the airline’s controversial move was commercially based.

It has been claimed thousands of jobs and millions of euro in regional investment will be lost by the move.

“There’s been a lot of exaggerating, perhaps for effect, going on in Shannon this week,” said Mr Mannion.

“I acknowledge what they’re saying, but again I’m pointing to the figures.”

Mr Mannion stressed that just a quarter of fliers on the route were from international connections, while 75% were travelling point to point and would have three alternative route to London available to them.

He said Shannon would continue to be promoted on its trans-Atlantic routes.

“I’m very confident, that over time, Aer Lingus will be seen to do more than its fair share to meet the regional development transportation issues associated with Shannon and the Shannon region,” he added.

As Mr Mannion defended his decision, it emerged an impact survey carried out by the employers group IBEC is expected to report that thousands of workers in the region face the prospect of losing their jobs.

Meanwhile, the Church of Ireland and Catholic bishops also joined forces to slam the airline’s move.

In a statement delivered at services and masses across the mid-west, the clergy described the plan as very damaging, and a serious blow to tourist and business enterprises in the region.

The bishops said there is no area of life, including the economy, in which social responsibility may be ignored.