Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in view of the guarantee of 400,000 transatlantic passengers made by Aer Lingus through Shannon Airport post open skies, he has received this guarantee in writing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27500/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of Aer Lingus daily direct departures from Shannon Airport to the US, post open skies, during both the winter and summer seasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27501/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 440 together.

The Deputy will be aware that Aer Lingus currently provides a range of transatlantic services from Shannon carrying some 400,000 passengers per annum on a commercially viable basis. However, in November last year I secured agreement with the US authorities on transitional arrangements for Shannon in the context of proposals for an EU/US 'open skies' agreement. At that time, I sought and received assurances from Aer Lingus that, in the context of a level playing field for the airline and its competitors, it would maintain the current level of transatlantic traffic with regular year round scheduled services between Shannon and Boston and New York. I did not request or receive these assurances in writing from the company. As the Deputy will be aware the discussions on a new EU/US 'Open Skies' agreement are ongoing.