Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey last night ruled out Government intervention to persuade Aer Lingus to reverse its decision to end the Shannon-Heathrow service. Stephen Collinsand Martin Wallreport.
Mr Dempsey said while the Aer Lingus move was not in line with Government policy, it was a commercial decision and the Government would not try to force the company into a U-turn.
His comments came after pressure from a Cabinet colleague, two junior Ministers and a number of Fianna Fáil backbenchers for Government intervention to have the decision reversed.
After five days of silence from the Government, Mr Dempsey said his overriding concern was to ensure the widest possible range of options was available for people in the midwest to travel to and from the UK, Europe and beyond.
"I have spoken directly with the chairman of Aer Lingus, John Sharman, and conveyed the Government's concern at this development. I have asked and received his assurances that Aer Lingus will engage directly and fully with its customers and business and tourism interests in the Shannon region on the implications of this decision," said Mr Dempsey.
He welcomed Shannon Airport Authority's initiative to engage with Aer Lingus and the efforts being made to secure other services on the London route.
The Department of Transport said Shannon was connected to Gatwick, Stansted and Luton from winter 2007 and that at Gatwick 90 airlines provided services to over 200 destinations, at Stansted 34 airlines provided services to 160 destinations, and from Luton 20 airlines provided services to 81 destinations.
"In 2006, there were 157,000 roundtrip passengers between Shannon and Heathrow, with 75 per cent of those terminating their travel in London. For much of the catchment area of Shannon there are also alternative travel options from Kerry, Knock, Cork, Galway and indeed Dublin."
Earlier, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea attacked the Aer Lingus decision. "Dermot Mannion can't come along on a bank holiday Monday and turn into a latter day Oliver Cromwell," he said of the airline's chief executive.
Ministers of State Tony Killeen and Máire Hoctor, and four Fianna Fáil backbenchers in the region, also came out strongly against the Aer Lingus decision and have demanded action from the Government.
Meanwhile, a regional campaign group to oppose the plan was established yesterday at a meeting of workers, business leaders and tourism interests. It said a court challenge was one of a number of options being considered.