THERE HAS been a big welcome for the reinstatement by Aer Lingus of its Shannon to Heathrow service by local politicians, business and trade union representatives.
Pat Shanahan, chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority, said the announcement was a positive development for the airport, its customer base and the entire region. "The Shannon-Heathrow link will result in increased passenger traffic through the airport and we look forward to other short-haul opportunities that may arise from Shannon in the future," he said.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, commenting from Kosovo where he is on a Christmas visit to Irish UN personnel, said: "Obviously I'm delighted, particularly in view of the fact that I and others spent a great deal of time and effort in persuading Aer Lingus that they were making a mistake to remove that report . . . I'm delighted now that they're changing their mind and we look forward to re-establishing our relationship with them on the Heathrow route."
The chairman of the Shannon Regional Tourism Board, Michael Houlihan, expressed his thanks to the Aer Lingus employees at Shannon and said that the decision "is no more than restitution of what are rightfully Shannon's slots".
Michael Vaughan, chairman of the Shannon branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, said: "Hoteliers and businesses in the west have always been convinced about the viability of the route, which clearly makes sound business sense".
Mayor of Clare Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) said yesterday that if Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary had not proposed to restore the link, "we may not have had this announcement".
She said: "A lot of damage has been done to the tourism and business community in Clare and the wider region since the withdrawal of the Shannon to Heathrow service earlier this year.
"Shannon's rightful slots into Heathrow were wrongfully withdrawn in a cavalier and reckless fashion without any consideration of the fallout for the region."
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said that while the restoration of the route was a huge boost to the midwest, "this service should never have been withdrawn in the first place".
Aer Lingus Siptu member Brian Slattery said that along with the job cuts, Siptu workers were taking a 15-25 per cent drop in pay. "The staff have turned the situation around. Aer Lingus staff at Shannon never gave up in the battle to have the Heathrow route restored. It was a temporary handover and now it is back."
Mr Slattery said the company decision to transfer the slots to Belfast "was misguided. It was a bad commercial decision."
