Tourism plan threatens Shannon stopover

THE future of the Shannon stopover was cast into doubt last night after a Government think-tank recommended urgent renegotiation of the US-Ireland landing deal.

The tourism advisory group’s proposal to bring in more US visitors comes ahead of a meeting in Brussels next week when EU transport ministers are expected to hand over powers to negotiate aviation deals with the US to the European Commission.

Under the present agreement, Aer Lingus has access to five US airports while any airlines operating flights between Ireland and the US must serve Shannon as often as Dublin.