Shannon-Heathrow link - Our national interest lost out to greed

The ending of the Shannon-Heathrow link yesterday marks the end of an era. When the government of Seán Lemass embarked on its policy of industrialisation, the Shannon Free Airport Development Company was established as one of the jewels in that crown in 1959.

The people of this country paid for the establishment of Aer Lingus as a national airline to serve the Irish people, but it was sold off. Now naked financial considerations have replaced the national interest.

The company decided last August to transfer its valuable Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast.