Shannon to maintain military flights

SHANNON Airport has emphatically denied that it is facing the loss of its US troop transfer business.
Reports this week suggested that it faced losing the business to Leipzig, which is said to have put an attractive package to the troop carriers.
However, in a statement, the airport denied that there is any threat. “We are happy to confirm that there is no foundation whatsoever to reports this week of a withdrawal of transit services at Shannon Airport. Shannon has a long and successful history in attracting commercial transit operations. The airport provides these carriers with an excellent and efficient service and continues to seek similar opportunities to secure additional aircraft movements that benefit the airport and the region.”
While the troop traffic has been controversial over the last eight years, it has undoubtedly been a major source of revenue. Losing it at this time, when most of the Ryanair business that Shannon had been reliant on has disappeared, would be another serious blow.
Over the last two years around 5,000 troops a week passed through Shannon, at a time when the rest of the airport’s business was in free fall.
Shannon saw double-digit declines in numbers in 2008 and 2009, while the drop in 2010 is again set to be huge.
According to Irish Aviation Authority figures, there were 2,525 commercial traffic movements through Shannon in June 2009 but this fell to 1,088 in June 2010, a decline of 56.9%. Earlier this month, Ryanair announced another 21% cut in its Shannon flights for this winter.
Passenger numbers for 2010 are set to be under 1.6 million, compared to 3.6 million just three years ago.
While it seems the traffic won’t be lost, peace group Shannonwatch this week warned that relying on international conflicts for business is an unsustainable business model.
“Shannon Airport had been a success story for over half a century, up to the year 2000. It could still be a success if the airport authorities had not been guilty of incompetence, as well as profiteering from war since 2001. Back then they welcomed the transit of US troops and dangerous war materials through this civilian airport,” the group claimed.
It was also critical of local politicians, who back the US use of Shannon. “It is likely that over 200,000 of the war deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan were children. From their comments in the media, it appears that local politicians and the Shannon Airport Authority would like these wars to continue so that Shannon Airport can continue to depend on this immoral revenue, the equivalent of the biblical 30 pieces of silver.”
A special peace protest will be held at Shannon on October 10, beginning at 2pm. In a statement, Shannonwatch said that while it regretted any disruption to the public, it felt protest against existing policy is necessary.