SAA Chair Asked To Outline Plans For Shannon Airport

Sept. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- The call follows today’s announcement by Ryanair to axe 21% of existing scheduled services from the airport in protest at Shannon Airport’s planned adjustment of its aeronautical charges by €1.58 per passenger, the first increase in prices at Shannon since 2004. The airline also cited the existence of the Government-imposed €10 travel tax as a further disincentive for continuing to operate from Shannon.

Ryanair announced that from 1 November, its Shannon-Paris route (currently 4 rotations per week) will be closed, Ryanair’s Shannon-Gatwick route will be cut from 7 to 6 rotations per week and Ryanair’s Shannon-Stansted service will be cut from 13 to 11 rotations per week.  

Mayor of Clare Councillor Christy Curtin today called on SAA Chairperson Brian O’Connell to outline to Elected Members what plans the Shannon Airport Authority has for replacing the business lost as a result of Ryanair’s announcement.

Mayor Curtin said: “The need to establish an autonomous Shannon Airport has long been debated but there is also an urgent requirement to define the exact nature of the role played by the existing Shannon Airport Authority in managing the airport’s affairs.  If indeed it is the case that it has little or no authority over the management of the airport then I would question its existence until such time as the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) gives the airport full autonomy.”

The Mayor added: “The DAA must support the SAA in replacing the business lost as a result of Ryanair’s decision to curtail services. While the loss of business following today’s announcement is regrettable I would ask both Airport Authorities to immediately open negotiations with other airlines with a view to filling the void.  Shannon Airport and the tourism sector in the wider Mid West region, which depends on quality connectivity to overseas markets, cannot and will not be able to withstand any further loss of business unless replacement airlines are found.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Shannon has joined his County counterpart in criticising Ryanair for adopting a ‘revolving door’ approach to conducting its business.

Councillor Tony Mulcahy said: “Ryanair as a commercial enterprise is free to take whatever business decisions it wishes. However, air travellers are becoming increasingly weary of the airline’s lack of commitment to operating any given route for an extended period of time.  Passengers are reluctant to book ahead as they realise that the scheduled flight may be withdrawn at a moment’s notice by Ryanair. This will not only have an adverse effect on business at the airports concerned but will also impact on Ryanair’s relationship with airline passengers as well as with airports.”

“Ryanair appears to have a problem with the Government over the air travel tax but is instead punishing Shannon Airport and its customer base in the Mid West Region. I call on the Government to immediately remove this ludicrous tax on the tourism and business community and in doing so help prevent Ryanair and other airlines from scaling back operations in Shannon or at any other Irish airport in the future.

“If the Government is serious about tackling the decline in the domestic aviation and tourism industries, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey must first review the salaries paid out to top earners in the Dublin Airport Authority.  Imposing a travel tax on passengers is a cop out for the Government’s failure to address inflated salary and pension structures for management within the DAA”, concluded Mayor Mulcahy.

-ENDS-

Notes To Editor:
-   Mayor of Clare Councillor Christy Curtin (087-2266520) and Mayor of Shannon Councillor Tony Mulcahy (086-2436345) are available for interview and/or further comment.
-   For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com