Aer Lingus screws the west: Day 5
The Missing List
Bertie Ahern – No Comment
Brian Cowen – No Comment
Derek Mannion – Disappeared off the face of the Earth, Last see in Stormont Castle
We are looking for ideas as to how to organise something, maybe an online campaign or something to highlight the need to keep Shannon-Heathrow. Any ideas would be welcome.
I am also looking for ideas that could be used to persuade Aer Lingus’ shareholders to call an EGM to reverse the scrapping of the Shannon-Heathrow route. A letter/e-mail/telephone campaign even. for that I would need to know where I can find a list of the shareholders.
So as we go into the fifth day since the news broke, we have the following occourances so far.
Noel Dempsey was being disingenuous in his statement concerning the scrapping of the Shannon-Heathrow route, claiming that it’s axing was not the be all and end all. This route accounts for a large portion of the traffic going into Shannon. ten percent to be precise.
30 percent of those who use the route, do so in order to meet connections at Heathrow.
It was revealed that Mr. Mannion, CEO of Aer Lingus will meet interested parties in Shannon next week. It is a bit late for that isn’t it? Considering that they have repeatedly stated that they have no intention of going back on their decision to scrap the route, so what is the point? He is sure to get a warm reception when he comes here though.
This is Eircom 2.0 for Dempsey. And while I have every respect for the folks at IrelandOffline and the work they did, The same behaviour from the former Minister for Communications will not work this time. I think Dempsey will have a more difficult time fucking about with the Shannon lobby.
Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy responds to Noel Dempsey:
Minister Dempsey’s comments follow today’s historic meeting of over 300 business, tourism and local government leaders in the West of Ireland. He is blatantly trying to fob off the very
genuine efforts by and concerns of the people of the West of Ireland to promote balanced regional development, an ideal supposedly driven by his GovernmentI welcome the fact that the Government has admitted that the mid-west has a serious situation. However, I am afraid that the Minister is seriously underestimating the damage that will be caused to the West of Ireland economy should Shannon Airport lose its direct flights to
Heathrow. Neither he nor the Government are going to get off the hook on this issue and I will continue, along with other public representatives in the region, to fight for the retention of direct flights between Shannon and Heathrow
Carrot and stick being offered to Aer Lingus. A four million carrot being offered by Shannon Airport Authority, and a Legal Action stick being offered by the Western industrialists.
Cork Airport to get extra Heathrow flight from April 2008 – Courtesy of Aer Lingus
Willie O Dea goes a peddling – Backwards. From the Examiner
Mr O’Dea told yesterday’s Irish Examiner he was “aghast� at Aer Lingus’s decision to axe a commercially successful route.
He added to his comments yesterday afternoon, insisting that he, Mr Ahern and Mr Dempsey were “working behind the scenes to come up with a solution� to the problem.
But a spokeswoman later clarified this, saying that while Mr O’Dea had raised the issue with his colleagues, and made strong representations on Shannon’s behalf, it was not clear the Government could do anything to reverse the situation.
Will Peter Power follow suit? Will Tony Killeen?
From the blogs in the last 24 hours
Ireland – Closing the barn door when the horse has bolted – John Barry
Bittersweet… – Emerald2810
Shannon – GUBU
Aer Lingus to abandon Shannon – Irish Rantings
Aer Lingus, Shannon and the Heathrow slots – The Library Bar Forum
Dialup Dempsey returns to defend Government – Irish Election
FW: Letter to the Editor – Cllr Keith Martin
The Problem with Aer Lingus Privatisation – The Dossing Times
Anyway, that is as many as I coulf find to keep ye busy over the coming day. Will update later today if I can.
12:45 hrs. RTE News is reporting that two farming organisations are offering their support to the campaign to save the Shannon-Heathrow route. The ICMSA (Irish Milk and creamery suppliers association) and the ICSA (Irish Cattle and Sheepowners Association) have offered their support.
The two groups have a combined membership of 50,000