Hopes for future prosperity take flight

GOOD news regarding Shannon Airport has been in short supply over the last few years, Wednesday’s announcement of a new transatlantic route drew a raft of welcoming statements from politicians and interested parties.

 

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said it was a vote of confidence in Shannon and comes at an important time.

“This is a major boost for Shannon and the tourism industry as it provides direct access to a new destination in North America. The new service has major potential for further developing tourism in the region, particularly from our key markets in North America.

“The launch of this new service also coincides with the Gathering 2013, the biggest tourism initiative ever staged in Ireland. I know that our tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, will work hard to ensure that the potential of this route is fully utilised.”

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said the new service reinforces how important Shannon Airport is as a major gateway to both Europe and the United States.

“Shannon Airport was the first airport in Europe to offer full US pre-clearance services and there are significant Government plans currently in process which will see a re-energised Shannon Airport emerge in the years ahead,” he said.

“I would now encourage all the major tourist and other State agencies working in the region to help promote and sustain this new business at Shannon and I wish United Airlines well in what I hope will become a long and beneficial relationship between Chicago and Ireland,” Deputy Carey added.

His party colleague Pat Breen said he had written to the Taoiseach to ask him to issue an invitation to Chicago’s first citizen, Mayor Rahn Emanuel, to lead a trade mission to the Mid-West and travel on the inaugural Chicago-Shannon service next June.

“It is important that this region benefits from the increased interest in Foreign Direct Investments. There are quite a number of multi-nationals based in the Chicago area and I believe the provision of this new service provides an opportunity for us to promote this region as a location for investment.

“I have written to the Taoiseach to ask him to issue an invitation to the Mayor of Chicago to lead a trade mission here from Chicago and travel on United Airline’s first direct service into Shannon Airport and I hope that the mayor will be in a position to take up the invitation.”

A link to Chicago is crucial, said Labour Deputy Michael McNamara. “Travel agents, hotel owners and other tourism promoters from Clare who regularly visit the US repeatedly emphasise the importance of a service from Chicago,” he said.

“Now is the time to very actively promote the new service in the Chicago catchment area. It is also a very important announcement for the airport in the context of separation from the Dublin Airport Authority,” he added.

Shannon-based senator Tony Mulcahy also commented on the new service. “Commercial decision makers and business interests in Chicago and the wider US Midwest have, for many years, invested in the West of Ireland due to the provision of direct flights to the region. Likewise, US tourists have long travelled to the region because of available direct flights. United Airline’s announcement will help to restore some of the business lost in recent years as a result of a reduction of other transatlantic services.

“I would call on the people of the Mid-West to use the service and in doing so possibly convince United to expand the service in the future.”

His fellow Clare senator, Martin Conway, said the announcement was excellent news for the airport, “particularly as it moves towards separation from the Dublin Airport Authority”.

“The route will be in operation during The Gathering next year, providing the region with an ideal opportunity to tap into the potential offered by the US market,” he said.

The announcement of the route portrays Shannon in a positive light to other airlines said Mayor of Clare Pat Daly.

“I would like to think that the scheduled separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA has been an influencing factor in the world’s biggest airline deciding to launch the route,” he added.

“An autonomous airport that is able to market itself internationally will hopefully lead to further route expansions in the years to come. This announcement also sends out a clear message to other airlines that Shannon can deliver for large airlines in a very competitive market.”

County manager Tom Coughlan also said he was pleased with the news.

“Clare County Council has consistently raised the issue of increasing capacity on Shannon’s transatlantic services for the purposes of welcoming visitors to Clare and the Mid-West during the Gathering 2013.

“United’s announcement represents a very satisfactory outcome to the considerable work that the council has been carrying out to promote Shannon Airport at local, national and international level.”

Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons said major efforts will be made to promote the route.

“We look forward to working closely with United to maximise the promotion of this new route. As an island, direct, convenient and competitive access services are critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.

Tourism Ireland is committed to working with United, Shannon Airport and other tourism interests to drive demand for this new service, and all other services to island of Ireland, and to help maintain our vital network of routes and services.”