Call for Shannon Open Skies Policy study

ishmael whale

It inherently depressing to see a group being formed to try to prolong the pain the Shannon stopover causes.

The real risk is not that “the Shannon transatlantic gateway may be traded away far too quickly”. Its that the country will suffer, as it has already suffered, by the continuation of the inane stopover policy instead of benefiting from the liberalised regime.

Hopefully the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland will respond in kind.


http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/0411/shannon.html

A new business, industry and tourism lobby in the Mid West is calling on the Taoiseach to initiate a study on how the loss of US flight business at Shannon will impact the region economically.
A draft business plan by the new Shannon Airport Authority acknowledged a three year phase out of US flights to the airport under the new Open Skies policy. This was met with dismay by business and tourism interests in the region.
They fear the Shannon transatlantic gateway may be traded away far too quickly without sufficient thought for the consequences for business and tourism. A total of 196 US companies employing 38,000 people are located along the Western Corridor from Galway down to Kerry - almost half of all the US companies based in the country.
In addition, more US visitors who use Shannon as their gateway spend more and stay longer in the region than those coming through Dublin.
The lobby group believe this business is seriously threatened by any drop in US flights to Shannon. They said that rapid change should not be undertaken until a full analysis about how Shannon can make up for those losses has been established.

dmeehan

when will these people learn?
if all of these "38,000 people are located along the Western Corridor from Galway down to Kerry" create enough demand for transatlantic flights, then airlines will meet the demand

there appears to be some belief that once the stopover will end that no planes (except american soldiers ) will ever touch down in shannon again. stop whinging people and start USING your local airport, thus increasing the demand

dowlingm

If the issue is to protect the west, why don't they call for Knock/Kerry to be given stopover status as well instead of Shannon "protecting them" from direct US flights

They know studies are only there to delay the decision.

ishmael whale

Can I suggest that an appropriate response to this letter to Bertie would be to point out that simply because they’ve been in the habit of contributing to the impoverishment of the nation does not grant Shannon some right of compensation and their grudging acceptance of the eventual ending of the ludicrous Stopover because of international developments does not constitute 'embracing change'.

Any demand for an ‘adequate transition period’ is simply an unjustifiable attempt to compound the harm they’ve already caused.

http://www.rte.ie/business/2005/0511/mibusiness.html
Morning business news
May 11, 2005 09:59
Shannon organisations willing to accept Shannon Stopover changes - Private and public organisations from the west of Ireland have written to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern following a recent meeting in Limerick. The organisations say that they are prepared to embrace change on the issue of the Shannon Stopover but appealed for an adequate transition period.

One of the organisations who have signed up to the policy is Shannon Development and its Chief Executive Kevin Thompstone says that Shannon area organisations acknowledge the reality of a liberalised transatlantic aviation regime between Ireland and the US in the coming years. They are calling for an adequate transition period and an integrated package of countervailing initiatives to ensure the continued growth of the economy of the West of Ireland and to make sure that Shannon International Development remains a key driver of economic development.....

Victor

Actually, reading the bits about broadband and rail & roads, it is a bit more sensible than the initial "give us a 7-year transition period".

ishmael whale

Infrastructural investment in Limerick as a location that has potential to develop enough scale to compete with Dublin is sensible, and the idea of developing a sort of Limerick-Galway axis with improved road and rail links is a common idea in this context. That's fine - and justifiable on its own merits.

But seeking an extention of the Stopover is not sensible from a national perspective. Using up scarce political capital to obtain some kind of a Shannon opt out from Open Skies is like using your scarce ammunition to shoot yourself in the foot.

Flukey

Cork is to start flights to the USA and as said above Knock and other airports should do the same, on the basis of the great argument for the stopover, that it benefits the whole southern and western area. Though how someone sitting in a plane on the tarmac in Shannon airport benefits a hotelier in Killarney, or a publican in Clifden or a restauranteur in Oranmore etc., is beyond me!

ishmael whale

Its great to see such willingness to use up our scarce political capital to lobby for the retention of an arrangement that retards our economy.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1110/shannon.html
Cullen in US for Shannon talks

10 November 2005 09:04
…… Minister Cullen met the US Secretary of Transport, Norman Mineta, in Washington last night to discuss Ireland's position on open skies. The Shannon stopover would go under any agreement, however, the Irish Government has attempted to secure a transitional period before that happens.
The meeting was described by a spokeswoman for the minister as positive. Officials from the Department of Transport will remain in Washington to attempt to reach an agreement on Shannon before the main EU-US negotiations get underway in Brussels next week.

Zaph0d

Remember Michael Lowry seeking delays on telecom deregulation from Europe to protect Telecom Eireann at the expense of Irish consumers? Same policy.