Save our Shannon have called on the Irish Government to enter into negotiations with IAG to acquire Aer Lingus.

Five years after the Government sold its 25.1% stake in Aer Lingus to International Airlines Group (IAG) for a fee of €355m, a Shannon Airport activist group has insisted negotiations between both parties involved in the deal must resume.

At the time of the May 2015 sale, the Department of Transport underlined five key commitments to the deal which it felt was most important. It included a stipulation that all existing slots at Heathrow would continue to be held by Aer Lingus in a legally binding manner for an unlimited amount of time. Schedules in Shannon, Cork, Dublin and London Heathrow were to be guaranteed for a period of seven years, the Department also noted.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Denis Vaughan of Save our Shannon described the sale of Government shares as “a disaster”. He believed that control of policies and routes was lost by the Government once the deal was completed. “Aer Lingus, as part of IAG is not concerned with what’s good for Shannon or in fact what’s good for Ireland, IAG’s only concern is to its short term survival during the pandemic and its long term profitability”.

He added, “The pandemic has created a fundamental change in the way that governments are exerting control on and investing in airlines in their territory. This creates an opportunity for the Irish Government to urgently enter into negotiations with IAG to repurchase Aer Lingus”.

National and regional economic priorities would dictate Aer Lingus’ policies and routes if led by the Government, the Ennistymon man affirmed. It is critically important that Ireland as an island nation has top quality air connections to the outside world. Connectivity is essential for tourism, trade, agriculture, multinational and Irish owned companies, our Irish diaspora and the many immigrants living in Ireland.

“Over many decades, Shannon Airport’s flights to North America, Britain and Europe have been a critical to the development of our economy. Without these flights, we will have fewer tourists, less international investment, less spend in all our business sectors and less jobs in the Mid West. The crisis continues to worsen, it’s time for action, we call for support for our proposal that our government should enter into negotiations with IAG and buy Aer Lingus”.

Related News

ballymacaula 1
Plans lodged for Ennis' largest single-housing development
01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0059
Rita represented West Clare 'with integrity & dignity' during term as Cathaoirleach
natasha o'brien 1
'I'd rather be difficult than be silent' - Natasha determined to speak out
Shannon Airport (2)
'National Development Plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance regional development' - Shannon Airport Group

Advertisement

Latest News
Éire Óg v ballyea 07-09-24 1 aaron griffin liam corry 1
Finding new players & promotion was primary focus for Ballyea & Éire Óg
Shannon Airport (2)
'National Development Plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance regional development' - Shannon Airport Group
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 tommy kennedy ian o'brien ger o'connell 1
All-Ireland final defeat won't overshadow year for Clare minors
ennis homecoming 22-07-24 marty morrissey alan o'callaghan 2
'It was a year full of everything' - O'Callaghan looks back on term as Mayor of Clare
jarlath burns 1-2
GAA President Burns to maintain Scariff Harbour Festival's links with Northern Ireland & GAA
Premium
ennis homecoming 22-07-24 marty morrissey alan o'callaghan 2
'It was a year full of everything' - O'Callaghan looks back on term as Mayor of Clare
1 DSC_9466
'There's no way we're not going to go again' - O'Donnell says no decisions made but exits from Clare camp unlikely
brendan o'mara
Two Gardaí working full-time on case of €10m drug seizure involving Meelick ex Ryanair pilot
charge sheet 1
Ennistymon farmer tears up charge sheet in front of Garda where he is accused of year long harassment of neighbour
monaghan v clare 29-06-25 roisin considine jennifer duffy 1
Monaghan make their mark & send Clare out of ladies football championship

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement