A new alliance of groups in the Shannon region has called on the Government to support moves to get Aer Lingus to reverse its decision to pull out of its Shannon to Heathrow routes from early next year.
Rival airline Ryanair has written to Aer Lingus seeking an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the former State airline's shareholders to discuss its plans to cut its Shannon-Heathrow service.
John Brassil, Atlantic Connectivity Alliance
The newly formed Atlantic Connectivity Alliance issued a statement this evening following a meeting in Co Clare. Some 350 groups or firms from the western and Shannon region were represented at a preliminary meeting of the alliance at the weekend.
Tonight the group called on the Government and other shareholders to vote for Ryanair's proposal to force Aer Lingus to rescind the move at an extraordinary general meeting. The Government and Ryanair both hold about 25 per cent of Aer Lingus shares.
Speaking tonight after the inaugural meeting of the steering committee of the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance, chairman John Brassil welcomed Ryanair's move.
"We would welcome any proposal that would bring about a reversal of the decision to withdraw what is a key piece of infrastructure in what is a powerful economic region and we will be waiting with interest on the Government's response in relation to Ryanair's move," Mr Brassil said.
"We are officially calling on the Government to back the proposal at the EGM to overturn the decision to remove these slots. The entire west, mid-west and midlands regions, across business, tourism and other sectors, is heavily dependent on these slots for connectivity to key international markets. It is incumbent on the Government that it does whatever is necessary to protect them now and into the future, in accordance with the spirit of the National Spatial Strategy for balanced regional development.
"The Government now has a clear opportunity to make a stand on this and force the reversal of a decision that should never have been made by the company."
The alliance said it would maintain a "vigorous campaign" aimed at reversing the Aer Lingus decision in the wider national economic interest.
The call for an EGM was also backed this evening by Clare TD and Minister of State Tony Killeen, who said Aer Lingus should use it to inform shareholders that it would continue operating flights between Shannon and Heathrow.
Ryanair, which owns 25 per cent of Aer Lingus, said the EGM would allow shareholders to vote in favour of demanding Aer Lingus management drop plans to shift its Shannon operations to Belfast.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that under Aer Lingus's rules, any 10 per cent shareholder can ask for an EGM to be called. The Government holds 25 per cent of Aer Lingus shares, while trade unions control nearly 20 per cent.
Mr O'Leary, who has already called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to move to have the decision reversed, said Ryanair would support a motion to retain the Shannon service in a voting pact if requested to do so by the Government. Alternatively, it said it would abstain from voting to allow the joint Government-trade union bloc to force a reversal of the decision.
"The trade unions...have already indicated that they would vote in favour of retaining Aer Lingus's Shannon-Heathrow services," he said. "Therefore all that is needed to save Aer Lingus's current Shannon-Heathrow services is for Bertie Ahern's Government to lift a finger and vote in favour of the motion at the EGM."
Ryanair said it would provide one extra daily service from Shannon to each of Luton, Stansted and Gatwick airports if Aer Lingus does not reverse its decision. Ryanair operates four flights a day to these airports.
Mr O'Leary said Ryanair would suspend the three additional flights if Aer Lingus decides to maintain its existing operation between Shannon and Heathrow.
The Labour Party, meanwhile, said it has tabled a Dáil motion criticising the Aer Lingus decision to drop the Heathrow routes from Shannon. The motion calls on Aer Lingus to reverse the move and on the Government to take "all appropriate steps to ensure that the service is maintained".
Limerick East TD Jan O'Sullivan announced the move in Limerick today.
"If the plan to scrap these key routes is allowed to go ahead, jobs and badly needed investment will be lost to the area," she said.
Ms O'Sullivan said public representatives in the region were "determined that the plan will be defeated" and that they would not be "fobbed off " with substitute services to some other airport that would not provide the key links to other destinations that Heathrow alone can guarantee.
"Very specific commitments were given in regard to the maintenance of sufficient services between the state's airports and Heathrow. It is now up to Ministers Dempsey, Cullen and O'Dea, among others, to ensure that these commitments are honoured," she added.
The Socialist Party also said today it will hold a meeting for workers and members of the public to discuss the Aer Lingus issue.
Former TD and party spokesman Joe Higgins said "The decision of Aer Lingus management to axe the Shannon to Heathrow routes is a declaration of war on working conditions and jobs. Like Irish Ferries, it shows what a disaster privatisation is and that bosses are intent on imposing a 'race to the bottom'."
"Other Aer Lingus workers must insist that all unions take action next Tuesday and Wednesday to demand that all current services at Shannon are maintained and that the expansion into Belfast goes ahead with all workers on the same pay and conditions as current staff."
Mr Higgins also called for Aer Lingus to be renationalised and put under what he called "democratic workers management and control".