Public asked to pin support on Shannon

MANAGEMENT in Shannon Airport has rejected suggestions that senior managers are annoyed by Clare County Councillors’ criticisms of the decline in passenger numbers at the airport.
Shannon Electoral Area Councillor PJ Ryan has made a claim that management wants county councillors to concentrate on positive developments at the airport, instead of focusing on some of its ongoing problems.
Councillor Ryan made the statement after management sent a letter to councillors seeking their support to “join with them promoting the airport on an individual basis”.
However, a spokesman for the airport insists the letter is in no way connected to recent criticisms expressed by local councillors.
Lapel pins have been designed and car/business window stickers have been printed to build loyalty. Management at the airport asked public representatives in the letter to wear the lapel pin while attending public or private engagements, if appropriate, and to display the car window sticker.
“We hope you will join with us in promoting Shannon Airport to help ensure the business grows to its full potential and be of benefit to all,” the letter stated.
Councillor Ryan said he supports the campaign and will use the stickers. However, he said he would make no apology for highlighting the dramatic fall in passenger numbers at the airport and the need for the Transport Minister to fast-track its independence from the DAA.
He said he promotes Shannon at every opportunity and recently spent over four days on a trip to New York at his own expense promoting the airport and the region. He feels some international agencies and airlines are not doing enough to promote the airport abroad, which he believes has to be highlighted.

A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said it is surprised by the comments made by Councillor Ryan. They said the new idea is a positive initiative seeking support for Shannon Airport and one that does not contain the slightest hint of criticism.
“We launched the ‘I’m for Shannon’ initiative in May with a billboard campaign fronted by Terry Wogan. We asked all stakeholders to back the initiative by wearing lapel pins and using car window stickers and, to that end, wrote to staff, airport users and, indeed, local public representatives seeking their support.
“We also launched the initiative across our social media platforms and, to date, the response has been hugely supportive. We would ask for the public’s continued support in raising awareness of the excellent services available from Shannon, in our summer schedule, to 34 destinations in the UK, mainland Europe and the US,” the spokesman added.
Councillor Ryan also launched a broadside against Aer Lingus over an alleged lack of promotion for transatlantic flights from Shannon Airport.
Councillor Ryan claimed a Clare businessman who wanted to fly from JFK to Shannon had difficulty doing so because Aer Lingus US staff tried to sell him a ticket to Dublin. On the return, he alleged the Dublin flight will be promoted first, even though it stops off in Shannon before heading to the US.
“It is inevitable that the numbers of people on Aer Lingus flights to and from Shannon will drop if the airport is not being promoted properly.
“If you book on the internet, you will have a better chance of flying from Shannon. However, you will often find that all the cheaper seats in Shannon have been sold. Aer Lingus should fill flights from Dublin and Shannon on a one-to-one basis, giving passengers an equal chance to fly from Shannon.”
Efforts by The Clare Champion to obtain a comment from Aer Lingus about Councillor Ryan’s claims proved unsuccessful.