The Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection will meet with senior management at United Airlines this week to ask them to rethink the decision to suspend its New York winter flights from Shannon.
Minister Pat Breen has made initial contact with the airline and a meeting with senior management at the European Section of United Airlines has been confirmed.
United Airlines announced last week that due to a fall in demand from passengers, it would stop flying from Shannon Airport to Newark, New Jersey, between November 26 2017 and March 9 2018.
“While I have made initial contact with senior personnel at the European Section of United Airlines since this announcement, I will meet with them in person this week to press upon them the importance of this service to the growing business between the mid west of Ireland and the United States,” said Minister Breen.
“Business in the region relies on this connection which serves New York, for Trans-Atlantic deals, meetings and trade.
“I am deeply concerned about the move to suspend the Newark-Shannon winter schedule, especially given the increase in investment into the mid west from across the Atlantic and the huge potential for even more,” added the minister of state from Clare.
“It is also worth noting reports of increased tourists visiting Clare and the Mid West from the United States this year.”
“I understand that the airline has assured Shannon Airport that it will begin flying from Shannon again from March 10, but there will still be over three months during the winter without such a service. I will be working hard over the coming weeks with businesses from the area to highlight to United Airline and the aviation industry the need for a connection between New York and Shannon during these winter months,” added Minister Breen.