Rules of the game keep changing and airports must compete or die

THE reaction of various interest groups in the mid-west to Aer Lingus’s decision to terminate its Shannon-Heathrow service is very understandable given its potentially negative impact on the region.

However, it fails to face up to the fact that Aer Lingus is no longer part of a government policy that has traditionally protected Shannon from commercial realities.

The introduction of ‘open skies’ on the north Atlantic, the privatisation of Aer Lingus and the phenomenal growth of low-cost carriers throughout Europe has presented fresh challenges and new opportunities for all Irish airports.