AER LINGUS has said that its recent deal with staff on cost-saving measures, as well as a reduction in the price of fuel and a new agreement on charges with the Shannon Airport Authority, has allowed for a resumption of its Shannon-Heathrow service.
The airline announced yesterday that it is to resume its Shannon-Heathrow route, from March 29th next year. The airline withdrew the service last January to facilitate a new service from Belfast to Heathrow. The move sparked widespread protests in the midwest.
Aer Lingus said yesterday that it would be operating double daily flights to and from Shannon and Heathrow when the service resumes in March.
The Belfast-Heathrow service is to remain in place. The airline is to cut back slightly on its Dublin-Heathrow route as part of a move to expand its Dublin-Gatwick services.
The airline said that the decision to re-establish the Shannon-Heathrow service followed the recent agreements with staff on cost-saving measures including work practice changes and new work agreements at Shannon, Cork and Dublin.
"These changes, combined with a new deal on charges from the Shannon Airport Authority, and the recent reduction in the price of fuel, have made the resumption of the service a reality," it said. .
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said that the airline had not bowed to political pressure in relation to the Shannon-Heathrow service.
Last week when he appeared before an Oireachtas committee, members strongly urged him to re-establish the Shannon service.
Mr Mannion said that the airline now had a radically restructured cost base at Shannon which copperfastened its long-haul service at the airport on a year-round basis and provided a platform to re-launch short-haul services. He said that the company hoped that the Heathrow service would be profitable from the end of the first year.
Ryanair had said that it would re-establish the service if its bid for Aer Lingus was successful.
The resumption of the Aer Lingus route has been welcomed by the Government and by groups in the midwest region.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said that the Shannon-Heathrow link was "strategically important for the midwest, both from an aviation policy and a regional development perspective".
"The restoration of global connectivity for the midwest region is all the more important now in these particularly difficult economic circumstances.
"I have taken every opportunity since August of last year to make it clear to Aer Lingus the importance that Government attaches to the resumption of a Shannon-Heathrow service," he said.
The Minister added that he also wanted to thank Aer Lingus staff in Shannon who have recently agreed a significant cost-cutting package which has allowed the airline to recommence this Heathrow service.
He also welcomed the development of the new Aer Lingus base at Gatwick near London and said he was pleased that the airline was to resume its operations at Ireland West Airport in Knock.