Aer Lingus deal at Shannon 'a good model' – Varadkar

The Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar is welcoming the deal to retain the Aer Lingus cabin crew base at Shannon Airport.

The airline was threatening to close the facility in Co Clare, which employs almost 90 people, over a staffing levels dispute.

The cabin crew, represented by IMPACT, have now voted to accept a Labour Relations Commission plan to end the row.

Varadkar believes the decision is good news for both Aer Lingus and Shannon Airport.

"It's very good news – what it allows Aer Lingus to do is resume the winter services from Shannon to North America, and also some of the new services from Dublin, under this new model."

"[The new agreement] has Aer Lingus cabin crew, but where they lease the planes. And that's a good model, I think."