King Hussein of Jordan had been so impressed with Shannon during his many journeys to the United States that for more than 12 years he has persistently asked the executives of Royal Jordanian Airlines why it had not used the Irish airport.
At Shannon Airport yesterday, the president and chief executive officer of Royal Jordanian Airlines, Mr Nader Dahabi, said: "You made such an impression on his majesty that he said to us, `Why not use Shannon?' "
For that reason, and for good economic consideration, he said they had now decided to switch from Amsterdam to Shannon for service to Chicago twice weekly as well as daily flights to New York. "This will be the first direct service from Shannon to the Middle East and beyond." He said that for the summer they would increase the Chicago service to three times weekly.
When the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, announced that the Government had granted Royal Jordanian Airlines full fifth-freedom rights to pick up passengers at Shannon for New York and Chicago, Mr Dahabi said: "This is wonderful news."
The Minister also said Virgin Express would operate a twice-daily return service from Shannon to Stansted, London, including an early-morning flight at 7 a.m.
A new Irish subsidiary company is being set up which will move the company's headquarters from Brussels to Shannon and create new jobs in key areas as well as pilot and cabin crew staff training, technical supports administration and expansion of the reservation centre.
Mr Martin J. Hamrogue, a native of Leitrim, who is Irish director of Virgin Express, said the company would start service from Shannon to Stansted in mid-December and introduce charter service on a low-fare operation in January, when they hoped to carry 100,000 passengers a year.