Written answers
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Department of Transport
Air Services
5:00 pm
Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the retention and development of the Aer Lingus transatlantic routes which service Shannon Airport; his further views on the fact that Aer Lingus have only committed to serving the routes up to the end of the summer schedule 2008; if he will instruct the Government board members of Aer Lingus to work for a real commitment from Aer Lingus and that the company will continue to operate a full comprehensive transatlantic service to Shannon Airport for a minimum period of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31757/07]
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In its press release of 7th November 2007, Aer Lingus outlined its planned schedule for 2008, which represents significant increased capacity on its long haul network. Aer Lingus also reaffirms its commitment to serving the transatlantic market to/from Shannon Airport operating daily direct flights from Shannon to Boston, Shannon to New York and daily flights to Chicago via Dublin.
Through a new link-up with US carrier JetBlue access to/from Shannon will be possible via 50 airports in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Shannon Airport is ideally placed to exploit the vast opportunities arising from the EU US Open Skies Agreement brokered earlier this year which will come fully into effect at the end of March next year. Experience in the EU context has shown that the full liberalisation of air services leads to increased competition, lower fares and the growth and development of a wider range of air services. In this context Shannon Airport Authority is making preparations to allow it to rise to the challenges and opportunities presented by Open Skies to allow it to compete for its share of the new expanding transatlantic market, with a view to securing increased connectivity to the US over the longer term. It is important to remember that under open skies new services may be inaugurated by any US or EU carrier between any point in the US and Shannon. The future provision of transatlantic services is not a matter for Aer Lingus only. In this context I welcome the media reports this week suggesting that a US based tour operator is set to operate 12 weekly flights from six US cities to Shannon Airport.
With regard to the State's representation on the Board of Aer Lingus, the State's appointees will seek to ensure that all future decisions of the Company, that have significant implications for wider government, aviation or regional development policies, including issues impacting on the mid-west regions, are considered at board level. This will give the State appointees the opportunity to raise the public policy implications of each decision and to ensure that the full commercial implications for the company are taken into account.
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