Tuesday, 7 August 2007

Heathrow Slots Vital to Shannon Tourism
IHF calls for Immediate Intervention by Government

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) Shannon Branch today called on the Government, as the largest shareholder in Aer Lingus, to ensure that the airline’s Heathrow slots remain available for Shannon Airport. It stated that any decision by Aer Lingus to cease flights from Heathrow to Shannon would result in a devastating 50% reduction in capacity between Shannon and London.

Chairman of the IHF Shannon Branch, Michael Vaughan, stated that that Aer Lingus’ decision will have grave implications for tourism and business in the Shannon region given the route accounts for a quarter of all flights into Shannon from Great Britain each year and is a vital access point for transatlantic flights, with over 60,000 US visitors coming through Heathrow into Shannon in 2006.

Mr Vaughan stated, “Shannon’s Heathrow slots are a critical component in providing tourism and business links into the region. With over 320,000 passengers flying on Aer Lingus’ Shannon–Heathrow route each year, this is an unacceptable reneging of the airline’s previously stated commitment to the region following on from the Open Skies agreement.”

“The Heathrow slots were acquired when Aer Lingus was under state ownership, and they are of vital strategic importance to Shannon. Our members are calling on the Government to intervene immediately to avert an imminent crisis in the region,” added Mr Vaughan.

The IHF is also calling on the Government to announce immediately the availability of the €53m plan promised to the Shannon region to address the challenges presented by the Open Skies environment. Otherwise, there will be a serious decline in oversees tourism in the area.

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eoin Quinn Tel: 01 6760168
Weber Shandwick FCC  087 2332191

or

Michael Vaughan, IHF Tel: 065 708 1111