The ending of the Shannon stopover will threaten thousands of jobs in tourism and industry generally, SIPTU warned today.
Following yesterday's announcement that the Government was lifting its objection to an EU "open skies" aviation policy, SIPTU vice president Mr Jack O'Connor warned the stopover was critical for the maintenance of thousand of jobs.
Mr O'Connor said the union was fervently opposed to relinquishing the Shannon stopover, which he described as one of "the few instruments of real effective regional policy in this country".
The Government's move paves the way for the EU to open discussions with the US aimed at creating a so-called open skies area which would almost certainly lead to an end to the Shannon stopover.
Under the present agreement between the US and the Republic half of all flights between Ireland and the US must allow passengers to disembark at Shannon.
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, which represents craftworkers at Aer Rianta, said today it is totally opposed to the relinquishing of the Shannon stopover.
Responding to comments by the Minister for Transport Mr Seamus Brennan that the end of the stopover was "inevitable", TEEU regional secretary Mr Arthur Hall said the airport was vital to the economic health of the mid-west region.
Mr Hall said: "Without retention of a year round scheduled transatlantic service US companies will not continue to invest in the region and thousands of tourists will bypass the area.
"Thousands of Irish jobs hang on the determination of the Government to hold the line on Shannon and, if necessary, it must use its veto in Europe," he said.
Yesterday, Mr Brennan said the Government would not let the Shannon stopover end without making sure a high level of aviation business was put in place for the airport.
He said that while there might be some concern in the area over developments at EU level, the new policy should also mean extra flights into Shannon and new airlines using the airport.
Meanwhile the Dublin Chamber of Commerce today warmly welcomed the announcement, saying the move would revive Ireland's ailing tourism industry.
Chief executive Ms Gina Quin said: "The ending of the stopover will ensure increased visitor numbers from the United States and also widen the door for inward investment and business development.
