This article is from page 18 of the 2012-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
SHANNON Airport will become “a carcass” if a new management structure for the airport is not fully operational before international airlines decide their 2013 route schedule this August.
The airport could also become the victim of “asset stripping” by the Dublin Airport Authority, with the loss of Aer Rianta International and the possible loss of the Shannon slots at Heathrow Airport, should the government’s stake in Aer Lingus be sold.
These were the main concerns expressed by councillors at a special meeting of Clare County Council on the subject of Shannon Airport yesterday.
Shannon Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) said that a steering group, including a member of Clare County Council, must be put in place immediately with a view to creating a new management structure of the airport as soon as possible.
“Setting up a steering committee is fine but if don’t have any decision made by this steering committee before the end of 2012, Shannon Airport will become a carcass of an airport,” he said.
Cllr Jerry Flynn (FG) warned that this process should not be used as a means to allow the Dublin Airport Authority to strip the assets of Shannon Airport.
“Aer Rianta should not be given away, it is worth € 100 million, and it should not be handed over to the DAA. Nor should the Heathrow slots be lost. This will amount to asset stripping for the airport in Shannon,” he said. “Shannon Airport also saves Dublin Airport around € 25 million a year by allowing all emergency landings to come through Shannon. If it was not for this, they would have to shut down Dublin Airport a number of times each year.”
Chairman of the council’s Transport Special Policy Committee (SPC), Richard Nagle (FF), said that the timescale for establishing the steering committee was critical.
“Concerns have been expressed about the timescale of the proposals. It was highlighted by speaker after speaker [at yesterday’s Transport SPC meeting]. It was felt that any delay would leave the future of the airport in limbo,” he said.
“The concerns of the staff down there need to be address without delay. Time is critical – the steering group needs to be put in place now an need to come up with proposals for the airport.”
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) also warned about the airport being left in limbo.
“What is not acceptable is that we are now entertaining in a period of limbo and we don’t have an idea what s going to happen to Shannon during this period,” said Cllr McCarthy.
“My main concerns stems from the fact that while a decision has been made, there is no indication of how this is going to be achieved and what impact this will have on the staff down there going forward.”