Aer Lingus is planning to end its services from Dublin to Kerry and Galway from the beginning of next year, airline sources have confirmed.
The Kerry South Independent TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, said yesterday that he is to seek an immediate meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss Aer Lingus's plan to end the service to Kerry Airport, at Farranfore, which is in his constituency. Mr Ahern is on holiday in Kerry, and it is expected that Mr Healy-Rae will meet him this week.
Aer Lingus currently flies to Galway three times a day and to Kerry twice a day. A spokesman said yesterday that the airline had decided to move to an all-jet fleet and cease using the Fokker 50 aircraft which provide some of the services to the regional airports. "An internal management task force, examining the consequences of that decision for our operations, has not concluded its deliberations."
However, airline sources confirmed that the ending of the Kerry and Galway services was inevitable, given the change in aircraft. "For instance, Galway Airport is not capable of taking jet aircraft from the Aer Lingus fleet," one source said.
Aer Lingus will co-operate with smaller airlines operating the routes, in areas such as marketing and flight connection.
Despite an EU subvention, believed to be about £2 million, Aer Lingus has claimed that it loses money on domestic services. The services are put out to tender about every three years, and any EU airline can apply.
Over two years ago Aer Lingus was awarded the Sligo, Kerry and Galway routes, but Aer Arann has since taken over the Sligo service. The contracts for the Kerry and Galway services are due to expire at the end of the year.
Mr Healy-Rae, whose support with three other Independents is crucial to the Government's survival, said: "This is very disappointing news, which I intend taking up with the Taoiseach immediately.
"I cannot understand it, given the recent announcement that there was to be an extra Aer Lingus flight daily from Dublin. This was confirmed by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, at a recent meeting in Caherciveen."
He said that a service operated by a smaller airline would not be of value to Kerry, because of the need to provide international flights connecting with the regional operation.
"At present if you travel from Kerry Airport in Farranfore to Dublin you can continue to London or New York or wherever," he said.
He added that the news of Aer Lingus's plans had come at a time when tourism in Kerry had been badly hit by the rail dispute.
Kerry tourism interests are likely to react with dismay to the move, viewing it as further evidence of an east-west imbalance.
However, it has been known locally for some time that the subsidised route has been under consideration by the airline. An estimated 70,000 passengers travelled on it last year.
Mr Michael Courtney, a local councillor and member of Killarney Tourism, said that the early-morning flight, in particular, should be retained.