Ms Mary Considine:

Ryanair informed us only in recent days that there has been a total collapse in bookings, in particular since the imposition of the level 5 restrictions last Wednesday. This was very unfortunate and disappointing news. We were just coming to terms with the closure of the base and the fact that the number of Ryanair flights per week had been reduced to eight. To see those now being pulled for a month is disappointing.

We have been in ongoing dialogue with Aer Lingus. I do not think there is any surprise in what it has said today. It has constantly said that Heathrow would be the first route it would look to bring back. We originally understood the date would be 7 December, but obviously given the ongoing restrictions, the confusion that surrounds the adoption of the European traffic light system and the lack of pre-departure testing, it has advised us that it will not restore the flight until the introduction of the summer schedule next year, which is usually the end of March or the beginning of April. Transatlantic flights are on sale for the summer season next year.