Aer Lingus will not reverse Shannon move

Aer Lingus has indicated that it does not intend to change its decision about ending the Shannon Heathrow air service, despite calls for it to do so.

A spokesperson said the company has made what it called a pragmatic commercial decision and its position had not changed since Tuesday's announcement.

There have been growing calls for the airline to reverse its decision.

Shannon Development has organised an emergency meeting tomorrow of regional business, tourism and community leaders to discuss the matter.

It says the Aer Lingus decision will have a major adverse impact on industry, business and tourism in the region.

It is claimed that thousands of jobs and millions of euro in regional investment could be threatened.

Management at Dromoland Castle hotel told RTÉ News it has decided to defer plans for a €25 million expansion, while the owners of the Doonbeg golf course say a planned €50 million investment has also been stalled.

Both claim their decisions are as a result of the Aer Lingus move.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Limerick West Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins said there was a huge movement of opposition in the mid-west region to the decision to end Aer Lingus' Shannon-Heathrow service.

He said the Government needed to use its position as a shareholder to convene a board meeting to have the decision revisited.

The Clare Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey, has this morning called for the immediate recall of the Dáil to discuss what he has described as 'the growing crisis at Shannon Airport'.

He said the consequences of the loss of the Heathrow links would have huge implications for industry and tourism in the region.

Govt not informed before weekend

The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Tony Killeen, has insisted that no information about the removal of Aer Lingus services was made available to the Government before the weekend.

He said every option would now have to be looked at, including the possibility of pursuing other carriers to come into Shannon.

Ryanair, which has a 25% stake in Aer Lingus, and Shannon Town Council have called on the Taoiseach and the Transport Minister to explain why the company's landing slots at Heathrow were not ring-fenced to prevent them being lost.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary called on the Taoiseach to explain why the Government has not honoured its promises to the people of Shannon and the mid-west that the Heathrow link would be maintained.

While the Mayor of Shannon, Cllr Sean McLoughlin, criticised what he called a nonsensical Aer Lingus decision.