Clare’s Fianna Fail TD insists there is scope for the Government to step in and support Shannon Airport.
It comes as Shannon Group has written to the airport’s 230 staff announcing a number of proposed cost reduction measures, including temporary layoffs and voluntary redundancies.
The move is part of efforts to secure the future of the airport.
Shannon Group has outlined a series of proposed cost reduction measures for staff at Shannon Airport in light of what it’s described as the “catastrophic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the aviation industry”.
Passenger numbers at the Midwest airport are down 96% since the onset of the pandemic in March, when travel restrictions led to the grounding of all scheduled terminal traffic at the midwest airport.
Ryanair has resumed flights in the past week, though the county’s airport is still operating at only 20% of what would typically be expected in July.
Staff have been told of temporary layoffs, reduced working hours, career breaks and a voluntary severance scheme as part of efforts to “secure the future of the airport” and allow them to rebuild a thriving business that serves customers’ needs.
TDs and Senators from across the MidWest met with staff yesterday in an attempt to solve issues facing the airport and Shannon Heritage sites.
Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, who’s a Member of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Committee was among them and he believes the announcement of cost-cutting measures was premature.
Shannon Councillor Gerry Flynn believes the pandemic provides an opportunity to market the airport in a different way, to safeguard its future, though he acknowledges that further investment is needed to bring that to fruition.
The Independent Councillor insists connectivity is vital for the survival of many businesses and industries based close to the airport and across the county.
