Aer Lingus: daily Shannon to Boston, New york and Chicago
Shannon Development has also welcomed the news that Aer Lingus will operate daily direct flights from Shannon to Boston, daily direct flights from Shannon to New York and daily flights to Chicago via Dublin.?The transatlantic market is extremely important for Shannon Airport and the West of Ireland. We have been in consultation with Aer Lingus in relation to transatlantic services this for some time now and have made available an extremely attractive incentives package aimed at securing year-round transatlantic services for Shannon. In addition, the recently announced Open-Skies tourism marketing fund will help grow business on this route. We anticipated some challenges this year as the onset of Open Skies takes full effect from April but this is a significant vote of confidence and we intend now to do all we can to help sustain and grow this service. Last year was a record year for international traffic at Shannon Airport and we were particularly pleased that, despite the ending of the dual gateway status for transatlantic services and the increasingly competitive aviation market in which we operate, we still very much held our own on transatlantic services. We have never had any doubt but that there is significant market demand for transatlantic access to the West of Ireland and Shannon is the key gateway in that regard. Aer Lingus is a long and valued customer of Shannon Airport and we, together with tourism and business interests in the region, are determined to do all we can to make sure they continue to grow these long established transatlantic services,? said Mr Moroney.
The Transatlantic Winter Incentive Scheme, which is open to all carriers, published last December provides for a reduction in airport charges over a three-year period and is aimed at encouraging airlines to commit to year-round scheduled operation with a minimum of three weekly return services per week. Qualifying airlines benefit from a maximum 50% discount in airport charges over the 5-month period from November to March (winter schedule) under the package.As the tourism authority for the Shannon Region, Shannon Development is delighted with this announcement. This news will also be welcomed by a host of tourism interests not only in the Shannon Region but along the west coast. Air connectivity is essential to the future development of the Shannon Region and Shannon Development with its tourism partners will be working closely with Aer Lingus and other airline carries operating services to Shannon from the US, UK, and Europe to promote these services and maximise the number using them,? said a spokesperson for Shannon Development.
