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21/01/2015
Transport Minister Urged To Protect 'Strategic Shareholding' In Aer Lingus
The Transport Minister has been urged to block any potential sale of Aer Lingus to IAG.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on transport Timmy Dooley made the call, saying that the state's "strategic shareholding" in the airline must be protected and that any such sale "could see the airline’s critical Heathrow slots siphoned off, risking future connectivity and growth."
Deputy Dooley added that even if assurances could be given over the Heathrow slots, they would "non-binding and likely to be eroded over time."
He said: "The threat to these valuable Heathrow slots is being dramatically underestimated. Any loss of these slots has the potential to severely reduce access to international destinations, which are currently serviced through Heathrow.
"The continuation of these slots is of major strategic interest; Ireland is highly dependent on exports and tourism and the Heathrow slots are valuable commodities in maintaining our links to Europe, the US, Asia and Australia. These routes are a major enabler in facilitating inward investment as well as boosting our tourism figures."
(MH/CD)
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on transport Timmy Dooley made the call, saying that the state's "strategic shareholding" in the airline must be protected and that any such sale "could see the airline’s critical Heathrow slots siphoned off, risking future connectivity and growth."
Deputy Dooley added that even if assurances could be given over the Heathrow slots, they would "non-binding and likely to be eroded over time."
He said: "The threat to these valuable Heathrow slots is being dramatically underestimated. Any loss of these slots has the potential to severely reduce access to international destinations, which are currently serviced through Heathrow.
"The continuation of these slots is of major strategic interest; Ireland is highly dependent on exports and tourism and the Heathrow slots are valuable commodities in maintaining our links to Europe, the US, Asia and Australia. These routes are a major enabler in facilitating inward investment as well as boosting our tourism figures."
(MH/CD)
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