FARES FOR US FLYERS have been up to €1000 more expensive at Shannon Airport than Dublin Airport, a Clare councillor has claimed.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) has been requested by Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) “to outline what factors are leading to prospective US travellers to the West of Ireland being quoted fares of €1,000/$1,000 dearer to fly to Shannon than those available to Dublin”.
During a recent visit to the United States of America for St Patrick’s Day, Cllr McMahon was informed of instances where persons were quoted much more expensive prices to fly into Shannon rather than Dublin. “We have come across this over many years, I have been going to New York City on a regular basis this advertently comes up in conversation. There is huge potential for Shannon but the Minister needs to explain why this scenario is happening”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus native McMahon said one businessman who flies out of Shannon an approximate eight times a year got quoted fares at Dublin for €250 less. “This scenario worries me no end,” he admitted. He said the new routes at Shannon are attracting people from Kildare, Wicklow and Meath to use the Airport.
Friends of Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) in North America have regularly flagged the matter with him, “if they want to fly into Shannon and if there’s $500-600 in the difference they won’t fly into Shannon, I think this a ploy by Aer Lingus to keep the numbers in Dublin by offering cheaper flights even though it is a shorter flight to Shannon. To fly from Dublin, you’ve to fly over Shannon which is a crazy situation”.
€4.6m announced for Shannon under the Regional Airports Programme last week was referenced by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), “what’s the point in this funding if people are not aware of this as the very beneficial route to the US”. She praised her colleague for raising the matter and said he “has Shannon at heart, at every opportunity he can he is speaking up and advocating for it”.
Tour operators in Milwaukee had been advertising flights to Dublin Airport at special rates but failed to mention Shannon in their advertisements, Cllr John Crowe (FG) outlined. “I went over and challenged them, they weren’t able to answer me but within fifteen minutes the advertising they had for Dublin was taken down. They let on they don’t know but they know well what they are doing, we will have to fight to get our fair share”.
Marketing is essential, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) stressed. “We saw it with the golf in Shannon when Shannon didn’t want to engage in any marketing in the event, it is down to marketing and how it is marketed by not just the Shannon Group but the Government, it is an international airport”.
For years, cheaper flights are available at Dublin, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) stated. “We need to change the narrative and ensure Shannon is front and centre whether it is Aer Lingus or whichever airline is flying into Shannon”. Cllr Michael Begley (IND) felt Shannon Airport Group should be asked if they had made steps to address the issue. “It is a disadvantage, with the stroke of a pen we’re taken away from the potential activity of tourism,” said Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF).
Addressing queries from The Clare Echo in relation to the cost differential, a spokesperson for Shannon Airport Group explained, “As an airport, our role is to facilitate a convenient and economic location for airlines to operate flights. We do not set fares, these are set by the airlines. Airline fares vary enormously due to a wide range of factors, and while there are instances where passengers will find cheaper fares to other airports, there will equally be many scenarios in which they will find cheaper fares on services to and from Shannon”.
Cost differentials where it is cheaper to fly to and from the US from Shannon are commonly found also.
