Shannon Airport operator the Shannon Group is calling on the government to support its efforts to safeguard EU connectivity for the mid-west and western regions in a post-Brexit environment.
Shannon Airport currently has UK hub connectivity through London Heathrow, but in a Brexit situation, Shannon Group says the airport will be without connectivity into an EU hub.
Vital Connectivity
Commenting on the issue, Shannon Group CEO Matthew Thomas, CEO said, "European hub connectivity is vital for our tourism and business customers in the mid-west, and western regions. It provides the air access needed to grow tourism numbers, to conduct business and attract FDI investment from Europe and is now more important than ever in the context of Brexit.
"While European connectivity is currently serviced through the London Heathrow hub, the reality is that in a post-Brexit situation, the west of Ireland will be without this critical EU connectivity.
“We are engaging with the government on specific asks for a connectivity funding programme to secure strategic routes. In addition, we believe that targets should be set for the national tourism agencies to grow visitor numbers into the regions. Government’s Ireland 2040 plan rightly highlights the importance of 'high quality international connectivity'.
"We are looking for the mechanism to be put in place to ensure connectivity to a key European hub is in place for the West of Ireland. In light of the challenges Ireland would face from Brexit, particularly a hard-Brexit, it is of paramount importance that we safeguard our European connectivity. The government’s Project Ireland 2040 recognises the fact that strong regions are the bedrock of a strong national economy. We believe that a strategic route development fund and regional tourism targets are essential, and we would welcome the government’s and stakeholder support to see these asks implemented."
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
