AER ARANN and Aer Lingus have confirmed plans to join forces and reopen four routes to Britain from Shannon which were abandoned by Ryanair in recent months.
From July 1st, Aer Lingus Regional, operating on behalf of Aer Arann, will operate services to Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow as part of phase two of a franchise agreement between the two airlines.
Ryanair withdrew from the routes in recent months in a row over the Government’s €10 travel tax and after the airline failed to agree a new deal at Shannon.
Under the franchise agreement, the flights will be operated by Aer Arann using its 66-seater ATR-72 aircraft and crew which will be based at Shannon.
The flights will be sold and distributed by Aer Lingus, while Aer Arann assumes full operational and commercial responsibility for the services, with Aer Lingus receiving a franchise fee.
Aer Arann chief executive Paul Schutz, who admitted the airline made a “small loss” last year said: “We are delighted to launch the second phase of our franchise operations with Aer Lingus in Shannon, where we know there has been a strong demand for new UK direct services.
“We are providing a unique product that combines the best of Aer Arann and Aer Lingus, and offers both business and leisure passengers a quality with excellent frequency.
“In launching these routes we are responding to calls from business and tourism sectors in the region, and we plan to work with them the ensure the success of these routes and, having achieved that, to grow our presence in Shannon to develop more new routes in the future,” said Mr Shutz.
Aer Lingus’s chief commercial officer Stephen Kavanagh said: “Aer Lingus Regional services have enjoyed strong support from customers in the short-term since their launch. Aer Lingus welcomes the introduction of these additional services from Shannon, and wishes Aer Arann continued success.”
Chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority Brian O’Connell declined, however, to be drawn on when Shannon would eventually receive independence from Dublin airport and have its own autonomy. He denied the Shannon board’s hands were tied by Dublin airport.
“It is very important to point out that any of these things are done by joint agreement, and nobody is dictating to either side one way or the other.”
Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy said: “Up until recently Shannon was very much dependent on one airline to maintain its scheduled services. I have always believed that relying on one airline for a large proportion of traffic was potentially detrimental for the airport as you end up leaving yourself open to a complete collapse of business if that operator pulls out.
“Aer Arann’s arrival at Shannon, coupled with Delta’s resumption of transatlantic services, heralds a new beginning for the airport.”
Also speaking at the launch, Minster for Defence and Clare TD Tony Killeen said: “I warmly welcome this announcement by Aer Arann, Aer Lingus and the Shannon Airport Authority.
“This is a significant boost for Shannon, and for the connectivity of the mid-west region as a whole.”