Mr. Willie Walsh:

Yes, and that is how a hub operates. If you are going to fly from point A to point B over point C you are looking for the most efficient connection you can get. It is not always the shortest time though. For example, I flew to Bahrain over Frankfurt and the connection time was two hours. Coming back from Bahrain I could have connected for one hour but I knew I would not be able to make that connection flying into terminal 2 and connecting out of terminal 1. Instead I flew back over Heathrow where my connection time was two and a half hours.

I did that because I am familiar with the system. If a person is looking solely at the shortest time, he or she might end up doing the wrong thing.

I have often been accused of being unfair to Shannon Airport. I have huge respect for what Shannon Airport has done. What needs to be recognised, and it is important in the context of aviation policy, is that Ireland needs Shannon Airport because Dublin Airport cannot function properly without it. Shannon Airport is used as the alternate airport for Dublin Airport. From a flight planning point of view, we must have Shannon Airport, otherwise we will be diverting aircraft into Belfast or the UK. Ireland needs a proper Shannon Airport.