SHANNON Airport are refusing to comment on threats made by Ryanair that they will pull further flights if the announced increase in passenger charges is not reversed.
Concern has been widespread amongst politicians and business people alike that the increase of €1.58 will affect the airport’s viability.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary described the increase as “insane”.
“Shannon’s traffic in 2010 is on target to fall by 37%, from 2.7 million to 1.7 million.
“Aer Lingus has announced the closure of the transatlantic routes for three months from January 2011. “The Government’s €10 tourist tax has also made Shannon uncompetitive”.
As of April this year, Ryanair withdrew 16 routes from Shannon, retaining 11 destinations.
O’Leary said the cost increase will further damage Shannon’s traffic and tourism business, since “price sensitive passengers simply won’t pay these unjustified price hikes from a Government owned airport monopoly”.
The airport has refused to comment on Ryanair’s threats.
Director Martin Moroney stated: “Even with this adjustment, charges at Shannon remain lower than Dublin and in line with those at other comparable airports”.
Deputy Kieran O’Donnell warned that the airport has reached crisis point and has asked the Government to “show the money,” in a bid to save the “key driver of industry in the Mid West”.
“The Government created a Tourism Economic Development Development Plan for the Mid West in which €53 million was to be pumped in to the region and the airport, but only €6 million has materialised”, deputy O’Donnell told the Limerick Post.
“This passenger charge is making the airport less competitive and the travel tax needs to be abolished.
“It is supposed to be an international airport but is losing flights by the day”.
The deputy said he would call for a sitting of the Dail to discuss the airport and its importance to the Mid West.
