GB Airways is to sell the slots, which were excluded from EasyJet's (Sterling)103.5 million acquisition of the carrier this week. The Airline has declared its intention to sell the slots before 31st January 2008. Aer Lingus, meanwhile, is due to cease operating flights between Shannon and Heathrow from January 14th 2008.
According to Mayor of Clare and Atlantic Connectivity Alliance member Cllr. Patricia McCarthy, "The slots owned by GB Airways are prime slots at Heathrow. This sale of slots represents a significant opportunity for the Government to play an active role in ensuring the retention of services between Shannon and Heathrow."
She added, "The Government has publicly stated that it will do all that it can to ensure Shannon Airport holds on to its strategic link with Heathrow. Therefore, it should now immediately express its interest in these slots by whatever means necessary, as they are likely to be the subject of intense interest."
The call by Mayor McCarthy follows less than 24 hours after the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance received confirmation that its application for slots at Heathrow has been rejected by Airport Co-Ordination Limited, the authority responsible for slot allocation and schedule facilitation at all major airports in the UK.
"The application for slots was an option the Alliance felt had to be pursued, as part of its ongoing efforts to retain services between Shannon International Airport and London Heathrow. The door has been firmly closed on this application but another has opened up with the announcement by GB Airways that is selling four pairs of slots at Heathrow", stated Mayor McCarthy.
-ENDS-
Note to Editor:
- Mayor of Clare Cllr. Patricia McCarthy (087-4187132)
- GB Airways is primarily a London Gatwick based point-to-point airline operating to destinations across Southern Europe and North Africa under a franchise agreement with British Airways PLC. In total it operates 39 routes – 28 from Gatwick, 6 from Manchester, 5 from Heathrow
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on +353 868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)
