Mounting Calls For Publication Of National Aviation Policy To Secure Shannon Airport’s Future

Photo © Pat Flynn

Calls are mounting for a new National Aviation Policy, with a view to securing the future of Shannon Airport.

It comes after the Department of Transport failed to provide a firm date on the competion of a review on Shannon Group, or on when it will act on recommendations to help the aviation sector generally..

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Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is expected to bring recommendations on the future of Shannon Group to government “shortly”.

That’s according to his Department, which still hasn’t given a definitive indication on when a review of the company will be completed.

In response to a query from Clare FM, the Department has said that following on from the Taskforce On Aviation Recovery report, a new National Aviation Policy is being drawn up.

An outline of a new policy framework will then be reviewed by Minister Eamon Ryan later ths year.

Local TDs have been pressing the cause for Shannon, and say urgent government attention is needed on the issues there.

Earlier this week, Kilrush Sinn Féin TD Violet-Anne Wynne said people in Clare have been waiting nine weeks for the results of the review, since it was first announced, and that this isn’t good enough, for staff in particular.

The President of Ennis Chamber says a new National Aviation Policy needs to be published urgently to secure the future of Shannon Airport.

Allen Flynn says any policy must be in line with European neighbours, particularly in light of Ryanair’s threat to shut its base at Shannon this winter.

Ryanair has again criticised the Government’s updated green list as a shambles.

It follows an announcement by the airline it will cut its capacity further this winter, with Ryanair boss Micheal O’Leary saying the Shannon and Cork bases are ‘very likely’ to close.

From Monday, people will be able to travel freely to Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland after the list was updated yesterday.

Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson says removing countries such as Greece and Italy from the green list makes no sense.