Varadkar hopeful of securing aviation maintenance deal

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that Aer Lingus is in commercial talks to secure a deal which would mean a net increase in maintainence jobs at Shannon Airport.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that Aer Lingus is in commercial talks to secure a deal which would mean a net increase in maintenance jobs at Shannon Airport.

There is concern for more than 70 positions at airport amid speculation that the airline is moving its maintenance operations to Dublin.

Minister Varadkar said that he has spoken to the chairman of Aer Lingus and hopes there will be a positive outcome to the negotiations that are currently underway.

"This is a commercial negotiation so nothing is 100% certain," he said.

"But if the deal is concluded, the jobs in Shannon will be secure, and in fact there'll actually be a net increase in aviation maintenance jobs in Shannon and in Dublin."