The following is the full text of the press release issued by Aer Lingus yesterday:
Aer Lingus has announced a series of initial steps to reduce its operations in response to the drastic fall-off in customer demand. The airline was already preparing reductions as a consequence of the worldwide economic slowdown but this was greatly worsened by the tragic events in the United States last week.
The measures announced today will mean an immediate cut in the scale of its operations by 25 per cent with costs to be reduced by at least this level.
While retaining core transatlantic services to New York/JFK, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles, as part of the schedule and capacity reductions, Aer Lingus will terminate its operations between Ireland and Baltimore/Washington and New York/Newark, along with its Dublin/Stockholm service, in addition to frequency reductions across a number of routes.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said the Company had been conducting a root and branch review of all aspects of the business but the new environment created by the tragic events of last week has required a more radical approach to the process in order to minimise the anticipated financial impact on the airline.
"The impact of the events of last week necessitate an immediate and sustained change of approach on route structures and their cost implications in the context of the significantly reduced revenues which will be available in a greatly suppressed marketplace," a spokesman said.
"It is imperative that Aer Lingus takes sensible and responsible decisions now which will reflect the exceptionally difficult situation faced by the airline," he added. Seven aircraft will be taken out of the fleet and the schedule adjustments, effective in October 2001 will include:
Routes terminated: Frequency reductions:
Ireland/Newark
Dublin/London City from six to five daily
Ireland/Baltimore/Washington Dublin/Glasgow from four to three daily
Dublin/Stockholm Dublin Paris from five to four daily
Dublin/Amsterdam from six to five daily
The operational measures outlined above reflect the airline's initial cutbacks in light of the current predicted traffic reductions. Further actions may be necessary based on developing market trends.
