Shannon Airport in crisis Government must act immediately
DAA governance of Shannon is strangling the economic life out of the region.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has said today that the government must act immediately to prevent Shannon Airport and the Mid-West region becoming an economic blackspot.
Deputy Carey was speaking ahead of a press conference by Ryanair this afternoon where the airline is likely to cut some routes from its winter schedule and reduce flights on other services.
Already the airline has reduced its winter capacity due to the disastrous government €10 travel tax. This announcement comes on the back of similar news from Aer Lingus who have decided to cancel transatlantic flights for the first three months of 2011.
Deputy Carey said:
“This expected news this afternoon is another hammer blow for the region, which is already suffering more than most in the economic downturn. Unemployment levels here are above the national average, and inward foreign investment has slowed down hugely.
Ryanair handles about half a million passengers through Shannon Airport, and that activity is vital for the airport and the region. Further cuts are a major threat to the economic viability of Shannon Airport.
The government along with the DAA, are not creating a proper business environment to retain airlines like Ryanair. I believe a positive start would d today that the government must act immediately to prevent Shannon Airport and the Mid-West region becoming an economic blackspot.
Deputy Carey was speaking ahead of a press conference by Ryanair this afternoon where the airline is likely to cut some routes from its winter schedule and reduce flights on other services.
Already the airline has reduced its winter capacity due to the disastrous government €10 travel tax. This announcement comes on the back of similar news from Aer Lingus who have decided to cancel transatlantic flights for the first three months of 2011.
Deputy Carey said:
“This expected news this afternoon is another hammer blow for the region, which is already suffering more than most in the economic downturn. Unemployment levels here are above the national average, and inward foreign investment has slowed down hugely.
Ryanair handles about half a million passengers through Shannon Airport, and that activity is vital for the airport and the region. Further cuts are a major threat to the economic viability of Shannon Airport.
The government along with the DAA, are not creating a proper business environment to retain airlines like Ryanair. I believe a positive start would be for government to indicate the axing of the disastrous €10 travel tax from this year’s budget. This tax has effectively doubled the price of many Ryanair winter flights out of Shannon.
The DAA too must accept responsibility for these reductions in services. It is a failure of airport governance that a multi-year deal on passenger cha