Ryanair deal - Airports have to take control

It is ironic that it should be a union representative who resigned from the Dublin Airport Authority over the deal which will see Ryanair open up nine new routes from Shannon Airport to destinations in Britain and Europe.

SIPTU’s Dermot O’Loughlin, who is one of the worker-directors, resigned because he said there was a lack of consultation over the new agreement.

With 200 jobs to result from the arrangement, his decision will hardly cause any ripples in Shannon, whose airport authority will become operational next May, like Cork. Both airports are preparing to be self-sufficient and can hardly be blamed for attracting whatever business they can.