Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has said today’s announcement by Aer Lingus Regional of a new Bristol to Shannon service and extra flights from the UK are a further boost from the suspension of the Travel Tax in Budget 2014.
The extra routes and capacity are expected to deliver up to 100,000 additional passengers at Shannon and create 20 new jobs.
“I’m delighted that Aer Lingus Regional has responded so positively to the Government’s decision to suspend the air travel tax from next April. These new services are a major boost for tourism and business in the Shannon region and my Department will now work together with Tourism Ireland to promote them,” Minister Varadkar said.
“This announcement shows how the Government’s decision to grant independence to Shannon Airport has halted the serious fall-off in traffic, and allowed the airport to stabilise its operations and look forward to renewed growth next year. Since the election I have worked hard to promote and encourage new air routes into Ireland. Earlier positive announcements include the United service from Shannon Airport to Chicago, and the return of Aer Lingus flights to New York and Boston from Shannon.
“It’s also the latest dividend from the Government’s decision to suspend the Air Travel Tax in Budget 2014. Aer Lingus Regional has already announced a new route into Dublin from Newcastle and increased capacity into Cork from Birmingham and Manchester. Earlier announcements include Ryanair’s eight new routes into Shannon, nine new routes into Dublin Airport, and three new routes to Ireland West Airport Knock. And WestJet has confirmed a new route into Dublin from Newfoundland.
“I again congratulate the Shannon Airport Authority, which has been operating the airport on an autonomous basis since last January, for securing this further growth at Shannon. The independent SAA has halted the serious fall-off in traffic at Shannon over the previous five years and I am confident that the airport can look forward to renewed growth next year and beyond.”
Ends
New routes/enhanced services announced since Budget 2013:
Ryanair
Dublin airport:- 9 new routes - Almeria, Bari, Basel, Bucharest, Chania, Comiso, Marrakech, Prague and Lisbon; Increased capacity - Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow (PIK), London (STN), Madrid, Manchester and Nice; Shannon Airport:-8 new routes - Berlin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Munich, Nice, Paris, Warsaw; Increased capacity - London (STN) Ireland West Airport Knock:-3 new routes:- Eindhoven, Glasgow, Kaunas; Increased capacity – London (Luton), London (STN)
Aer Lingus Regional
Dublin airport:- 1 new route - Newcastle; Increased capacity - Aberdeen, Bristol, Cardiff Glasgow; Shannon airport:- 1 new route- Bristol; Increased capacity - Manchester, Birmingham; Cork airport:- Increased capacity- Birmingham, Manchester
WestJet:- Dublin airport:- 1 new route - Newfoundland
New Routes and Enhanced Services announced since Budget 2013
Airline New Routes Increased capacity on routes Commencing
Dublin Airport Ryanair Almeria, Bari, Basel, Bucharest, Chania, Comiso, Marrakech, Prague and Lisbon Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow (PIK), London(STN), Madrid, Manchester and Nice April 2014
Aer Lingus Regional Newcastle Aberdeen, Bristol, Cardiff Glasgow October 2013
WestJet Newfoundland June 2014
Shannon Airport Ryanair Berlin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Munich, Nice, Paris Warsaw London (STN) April 2014
Aer Lingus Regional Bristol Manchester, Birmingham
Ireland West Airport Knock Ryanair Eindhoven, Glasgow, Kaunas London (LTN)
London (STN)
April 2014
Cork Airport Aer Lingus Regional Birmingham, Manchester