Hopes United Announcement Will Have Domino Effect For Shannon

Businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector in Clare have expressed hope that the planned resumption of transatlantic services from Shannon will have a domino effect.

If follows the announcement by United Airlines that flights between the Midwest facility and Newark are currently scheduled to recommence in March.

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United Airlines this week confirmed that it’s accepting bookings for the Shannon to Newark service, which it says is currently scheduled to begin daily services again from March 27th.

The operator pulled its flights to the Midwest airport in 2020 when the pandemic took hold and subsequently confirmed that the service wouldn’t return in 2021.

This latest news has been welcomed Shannon Group which says efforts to resume transatlantic services in 2022 are to ‘intensify’ in the coming months.

Owner of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis, Paul Madden says the announcement is great news for businesses who’re dependent on a vibrant Shannon.

He’s confident it will lead to other airlines following suit.

Ireland is currently on level 4 of the US’ travel advisory though, which is the highest level possible.

It means US citizens are being advised not to travel here on account of the high level of COVID-19 in the community, and non-citizens are banned from entering the US from Ireland.

Newmarket on Fergus Businessman Pat Keogh, who operates a Tourist Chaffeur Service out of the airport says it’s vital that every effort is made to ensure travel restrictions are lifted before Christmas.

The Chair of Loop Head Tourism has echoed the sentiment that the industry has been decimated by the imposition of travel restrictions.

Luke Aston says regardless, now is the time to look forward, with hope.