Kenny needs to secure takeoff - Flights to US from Cork

THE Government appears to have kicked to touch the issue of whether Cork Airport can look forward to offering transatlantic flight this summer.

Norwegian Air International is planning to launch a Cork to Boston service in May but can do so only if they secure a foreign carrier permit from the US Department of Transportation.

Both Dublin and Shannon airports already have this service so it makes sense if there were to be US flights from Cork that it should be available there too.

According to Kevin Toland, the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority which, bizarrely, controls Cork Airport, there are no legal or practical impediments to the commencement of the service.

In other words, it’s political.

The US department of transport has held up the Norwegian airline’s licence application after aggressive lobbying by the big American airlines and unions and some EU air carriers.

Realistically, the only politician with the clout to make a difference with the US authorities is Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Time is of the essence. A service beginning in May needs to be set in motion within the next two weeks.

Time to hit the ground running, Taoiseach.