LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore insisted yesterday the huge decline in passenger numbers at Shannon will not be tackled by just transferring management of the airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA).

TROUBLED Shannon Airport was delivered another hammer blow yesterday with Ryanair dropping more flights, reducing its destinations by 21% to six from a high of 35 two years ago.

AER Lingus says trading picked up in the third quarter and that it is likely to generate a full-year operating profit towards the top end of expectations.

AT least one airline has emerged as a potential replacement carrier to take over the Shannon to Paris route which Ryanair will abandon next month despite its success.

SHANNON Airport would lose out on the €5 million-€10m it receives annually from the Dublin Airport Authority, to cover likely losses, if complete autonomy was secured.

SHANNON Airport could become a hub for cargo between the US and Europe, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey believes.

RYANAIR hopes the Government’s financial woes will help the low-cost carrier finally seal a takeover of Aer Lingus, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has told a German newspaper.

THE future of Shannon Airport as a Ryanair base is in serious doubt with analysts predicting it could follow the same fate as Belfast City airport.

THE Government’s take from the controversial air travel tax has fallen 20% on last summer’s figures.

RYANAIR has slammed new travel charge increases at Shannon which the airline claims will further erode its passenger figures.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan quietly shelved a review of the pay of semi-state bosses despite the fact that some of them enjoy packages worth €500,000 a year.

The Irish Tenors, ranked as one of the most successful Irish touring acts ever, alongside U2 and Riverdance, sing Ireland’s praises whenever they can.

Aer Lingus has written to its shareholders to rubbish claims it may be forced to stump up €200m to shore up workers’ pension entitlements.

Monday’s disruptive airport stoppages may have been averted, but there is little optimism that talks at the Labour Relations Commission can resolve the two-year old pension dispute at Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Authority.

Siptu will this morning decide whether to call off the industrial action which could close the country’s airports next Monday and accept an invitation for talks with employers at the Labour Relations Commission.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said there is real interest from industry in investing in Shannon Airport.

Ryanair has confirmed that 10 airline groups — among them IAG, Virgin and CityJet — have shown interest in forming a part of its “remedy package”, aimed at winning EU approval for its €694m takeover bid for Aer Lingus.

The group of unions at Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Authority have warned that their members will begin industrial action if no progress is made on their troubled pension scheme by Sept 20.

Talks were continuing late last night between the Dublin Airport Authority and taxi unions to try to avert a third day of disruption for thousands of airline passengers.

Talks were continuing late last night between the Dublin Airport Authority and taxi unions to try to avert a third day of disruption for thousands of airline passengers.