JOHN HACKETT,
Sir, - Yet again Aer Lingus has thrown the plans of thousands of travellers into complete chaos.
The chief argument for subsidising a national airline is to provide a reliable link with the outside world (critical for an island nation) for both commerce and tourism. In recent years, Aer Lingus has increasingly failed to deliver on both fronts.
There is no question that recent events have made the airline business more difficult than ever. However, nimble private operators such as Ryanair have proven it possible not only to provide cost-effective service, but also prosper during the same period. The fact is that state airlines are increasingly ill-equipped to compete against more efficient, private competitors.
Ireland now has a critical mass of frequent flyers that can more than sustain a dependable and orderly market for commercial air travel. Why pay the public sector to provide a service that the private sector would willingly provide more reliably, and perhaps even at lower cost? Bailing out Aer Lingus from one crisis to the next does a disservice to the traveling public, taxpayers and even the airline's employees. It's time to pull the plug. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN HACKETT, West 79th Street, New York, USA.
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Sir, - Let me see if I have got this right: Aer Lingus is in danger of going out of business and a survival plan has been implemented which calls for changed work practices with a view to improving commercial viability.
The pilots do not like the survival plan and are striking.
Is this turkeys voting for Christmas? - Yours, etc.,
CHRIS COGGINS, Stillorgan Wood, Co Dublin.
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Sir, - Like thousands of others, I have, yet again, had to change my travel plans because of an Aer Lingus strike. But can anyone tell me why they need 537 pilots to fly 33 planes? - Yours, etc.,
JOHN McCORMACK, Kilpatrick, Co Westmeath.
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Sir, - As one of the many passengers "inconvenienced" by the current stoppages at Aer Lingus, might I ask if anyone has been able to get through to the airline's helpline - or is it just a further means of annoying the "customer"? - Yours, etc.,
ALAN KINSELLA, Otterbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
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Sir, - IMPACT: what an unfortunate name for an airline pilots' union. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL READE, Templestowe, Melbourne, Australia.