American Airlines has sought licences from the US authorities to introduce two new routes into Ireland next year, it has emerged.
The airline would start the Dublin-Chicago and Shannon-Boston services next summer if it finds in favour of such services in an examination of route options that is nearing completion.
As part of that process, the company late last month applied for landing slots at the Dublin Airport Authority.
Confirmation of the airline's interest follows remarks last week by the Minister for Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, who indicated in Killarney that the Government was "poised to attract major US airlines into Ireland".
Mr O'Donoghue is known to have visited the mid-west US in October with the chief executive of Tourism Ireland, Mr Paul O'Toole, to promote the Irish tourism market.
Following that visit, he said last week that he was hopeful that "some American airlines will take the initiative and travel to Shannon and to Dublin".
While some Irish tourism sources believe American has decided in principle to start routes into Ireland, a London-based spokesman for the airline insisted yesterday that it had not yet made a definitive decision to enter the market.
American Airline's director of corporate communications for Europe, Mr Richard Hedges, said the company would make a decision on the Irish routes in the coming weeks.
"They are among a number of destinations were are exploring operating in 2005," he said. "Our decision will be based on where we can most profitably fly into."
News of American's interest follows signals from the airline last month that it planned to focus on the international market to avoid persistent pressure in the US market.
The airline is cutting capacity in its domestic market to create opportunities in the international business.
In addition to possible Irish services, Mr Hedges said the airline was examining route options between other west European and British cities and the north-east US.
The airline is partner with Aer Lingus in the OneWorld alliance and it has a code-share agreement with the Irish airline.
However, Mr Hedges made little of any potential tension with Aer Lingus if American entered the Irish market. "I don't think there would be any sensitivity around that... It's common to have partners operating on the same routes."
Mr O'Donoghue said last week that an "open skies" agreement was open for negotiation with the US in the wake of the US presidential election.
Aer Lingus is restricted to services into New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles under the current US-Ireland bilateral.
However, the Minister suggested Aer Lingus could fly to 12 to 18 destinations if given the opportunity.
