Dublin Airport 'failed to tell Shannon about Aer Lingus pull-out'

The row over Aer Lingus' decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow services has taken a new turn this morning amid reports that the Dublin Airport Authority was aware of the move in June.

The row over Aer Lingus's decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow services has taken a new turn this morning amid reports that the Dublin Airport Authority was aware of the move in June.

Reports this morning say the DAA, which operates Shannon Airport, first learned of the proposal when contacted by an official in the Department of Transport on June 13.

It was told that Aer Lingus was considering ending the Shannon-Heathrow route, but a final decision had yet to be made.

However, the DAA never passed the information to local management in Shannon because it was given in strictest confidence.

Last week, it emerged that Department of Transport officials learned of the Aer Lingus plan in June, but never informed Minister Noel Dempsey.