This article is from page 6 of the 2007-10-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
that the group feels that Aer Lingus has been in breech of European leg- islation namely article 95/93.
The group have pointed to a section of the 1993 regulation which says that “slots may be freely exchanged between air carriers from one route or type of service to another, by mu- tual agreement or as a result of a total or partial take-over or unilaterally.” This is called “flexibility mecha- Tbh ee Mae
The regulation goes on to clarify that the use of flexibility 1s limited
and cannot be used for slots to routes considered “vital” for the economic development of the region where the airport is located. Mr Geraghty said the group would also be asking if any impact study of the region had been done by the airline.
“We will also ask if the grandfather rights follow the route of the airline,” he said.
The group will ask the European public representatives if a mediator can be ap- pointed to help re- solve the difficulty at Shannon.
“We will be telling them that last year the Irish government owned the company
which holds he Irish airports slots to health. It sold 75 per cent of this company holding 25 per cent for strategic interest. The company is not trying to remove the route on one hand while the government is can- vassing support for a new company to acquire new slots from the very same co-ordinated airport on the other,’ he said.