Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 190: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the progress made in attracting alternative airlines to fly the Shannon to Heathrow route or to fly Shannon to other European hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22056/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The business of attracting alternative airlines to fly the Shannon to Heathrow route or to fly to other European hubs is primarily a matter for the Shannon Airport Authority. Since the announcement by Aer Lingus of its decision to withdraw from the Shannon Heathrow route the Shannon Airport Authority has been actively engaging with airlines with a view to securing new services that would redress the reduction in connectivity that will follow from withdrawal of the Aer Lingus service. With a view to promoting the development of new services the airport has recently published a European Hub Airport Incentive Scheme for services to come into operation in 2008.

The Airport Authority has specifically identified airline services to the key European Hub airports of London-Heathrow (LHR), Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS) and Frankfurt Main (FRA) as being of key strategic importance to its ongoing development. The Scheme also provides for significant discounts in airport charges and for the possibility of marketing support to be provided by Shannon Airport for new services.