Pre-clearance reopens flights to Philadelphia

THE availability of US customs and border protection pre-clearance at Shannon was a bigger factor than the airport’s separation from Dublin Airport Authority in US Airways’ decision to resume its Philadelphia service after four years.

 

US Airways senior vice-president, Suzanne Boda said while the Shannon-Philadelphia route is only back for the summer season initially, if it goes well there is a good chance it will become year-round. She was in Clare this week to address Shannon Chamber members at Dromoland on Tuesday.

Speaking to The Clare Champion, the morning after the Boston bombing, she said she was hopeful that the incident wouldn’t stop people travelling due to concerns over terrorism. “Obviously we hope not. it’s certainly a tragedy what occurred during the Boston Marathon yesterday and our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people who are affected by it. Hopefully, this doesn’t impact on travel. Unfortunately, we’ve been dealing with issues like this for a number of years and it just brings us back to the fact that we all have to be very observant of security rules and ensure that we’re following all the protocols that are in place.”
The Philadelphia route is starting next month and she said she believes it will be a success.

“We’re very confident. One good story to point to is that our Dublin service has done extremely well, to the point that we have up-gauged our aircraft, that is put a larger aircraft on for the summer out of Philadelphia and last year we were able to add a second flight from Charlotte to Dublin for the summer season.

“That’s something that we couldn’t do unless we knew we had good support and were able to be profitable. Obviously, fuel has stabilised somewhat since we had to pull out of here in 2009 but we’re very confident that we’ll be able to have good profitability on this route in the summer.”

Already the route has been extended into October, although most of their seasonal services to Europe come to a close in September.

She said when the service to Dublin started, it was also seasonal. “Dublin originally started with a seasonal service and because of the ability to have a very profitable market there seasonally; it gave the opportunity to look at extending the season, which we have already done with the Shannon route. We do think it will be very successful this year and then we will look at the ability to extend it year round.”

The separation of Shannon from the DAA has huge implications for the airport’s future and Ryanair have welcomed it but Ms Boda said, from US Airways point of view, it’s not that significant.

“It’s something that we certainly look at because, obviously, we have relationships with airports and the groups that run the airports but really we’re looking at the market itself in Shannon and why that plays a part. it’s really not what makes the decision whether to fly here or not.”

However, she said the provision of Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities at Shannon is something that gives it an advantage because it makes things far easier for returning Americans, who are getting connecting flights.

“It makes a big difference. Coming back into the country, it’s a much, much easier process for our customers. Typically, you’d have to stand in a queue for customs and border control in the US as you’re coming back in but now these customers can just walk off and make their connections to further destinations without any problems whatsoever.”

Typically, returning Americans need two hours after touching down to get an onward domestic flight but the facility at Shannon will reduce this to 35-40 minutes.

She also feels The Gathering will provide a real boost to the service this year. Ms Boda said Americans have heard quite a bit about the economic situation in Europe but they have more awareness of how other countries have been affected, with Ireland a little further down the news agenda Stateside.

“Everyone is aware of the global economy and the entire European continent in particular. There are other countries that become much more visible in the US, with the Greek situation and the Spanish situation but overall I think the US has been equally affected and people are looking for deals.”

Despite the global economy, she said there is interest in travelling to Europe and Shannon can benefit.

“People have stayed on the sidelines for the last few years and not travelled as much on holidays as they would have typically. There is pent-up demand and they’re anxious to get out there.”

She was in Clare this week in an attempt to promote business traffic on the route and said it could be beneficial to Irish executives, who want to take connections from Philadelphia. “We’re hoping that we can build some business traffic here and that allows us to look at a longer-term commitment here, for a year-round service. That business traffic we hope to carry through the US, Canada and Mexico for that matter,” she concluded.