Aer Lingus Shannon Heathrow route reinstated

The airline attributed the decision to recent agreements with staff on cost saving measures and work practice changes at Shannon, Cork and Dublin, but it is widely thought that a resumption of the Shannon Airport to
London Heathrow service by Aer Lingus may not have been realised were it not for Ryanair's bid to take over the national airline.

Welcoming what she described as "the reestablishment of a
strategically important service for business and tourism across the West
of Ireland", the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said she believed that
Government pressure on Aer Lingus to restore the route had led to
today's announcement.



"Perhaps at this point it may not be popular in some quarters to thank
Michael O'Leary of Ryanair, but it is my considered opinion that had he
not proposed to restore the Heathrow to Shannon connection in his
takeover bid for Aer Lingus that we may not have had this announcement,"
she said. "It was known in aviation circles that Ryanair was
planning on making the Shannon to Heathrow proposal long before it
became public. O'Leary's proposal served to focus Aer Lingus and the
Government into reality and hence its welcome announcement."



According to Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion recent developments in relation to Dublin Gatwick services had allowed the airline to free up some of its Dublin Heathrow slots and allocate them for Shannon.

The airline also said it would be writing to all its shareholders telling them that the Ryanair takeover offer is 'opportunistic, unsolicited and unwelcome' and significantly undervalues the airline.  It is recommending they take no action.