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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Nov 1986

Vol. 370 No. 2

Written Answers. - Air Fares.

97.

asked the Minister for Communications the reason the air fares on the Cork-London and Shannon-London routes are so high by comparison with the Dublin-London route; and if he will allow competition to be introduced from Cork and Shannon to prevent the retention of such high fares by airlines operating in a cartel.

I do not accept that air fares on Cork-London and Shannon-London are excessive in comparison with the equivalent Dublin-London route. The following table shows the dearest and cheapest comparable fares offered by Aer Lingus into London (Heathrow) from Dublin, Cork and Shannon:

Return Fare Level (IR£)

Executive Class

Superapex

£

£

Dublin/London

208

74

Cork/London

240

84

Shannon/London

240

84

Fare per mile (IRp)

Executive Class

Superapex

p

p

Dublin/London

36.0

12.8

Cork/London

33.6

11.8

Shannon/London

31.6

11.1

This shows that while the actual fare level from Dublin to London (Heathrow) is the cheapest of the three routes, the fare level from Dublin expressed on a per mile basis is in fact the most expensive.

As the Deputy will know, I have critically examined all airline fare proposals which have been put to me for consideration and I have intervened to refuse fare increases where I judged them to be excessive. In this context, I am happy to report that the current executive class and superapex fares form Cork and Shannon to London are now lower by about 5 per cent and 38 per cent respectively in real terms than the equivalent executive and apex fares were in January 1983. I understand that at the present time, Cork and Shannon Airports are experiencing very large increases in traffic to London as a result of the lower fares now on offer.

I have also been prepared to allow competition in fare levels among airlines on routes to London. For instance, on the Cork-London (Gatwick) route, Dan-Air recently secured my approval to introduce a new low pex fare of £119. This has less restrictive booking conditions than the standard pex fare of £157 on offer from Aer Lingus-British Airways. Dan-Air also have my approval for economy and Eurobudget fares of £218 and £190 respectively, which are lower than the corresponding executive class and budget fares of £240 and £212 respectively on offer from Aer Lingus and British Airways.

So the Deputy will see that there is now keener competition than ever before and it is my intention to continue to pursue cheaper sustainable fares on all routes in and out of Ireland. Moreover, I will be seeking the establishment of more and more routes in and out of this country. This objective is being addressed, for instance, in our bilateral discussions with other countries and in the stance I have taken at the Council of Ministers (Transport) of the EC.

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