Vol. 414 No. 2
1 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether Aer Lingus have in place the aircraft needed for the opening up of the air traffic passenger route between Ireland and Los Angeles; the reason the commencement of the route was postponed in 1991; and when the service will commence.
The one B767 aircraft which Aer Lingus has planned to operate on the Los Angeles service in 1991 has been sub-leased by the company to another airline until such time as the company requires it for the service. The airline has not taken delivery of a second B767 aircraft which it had also proposed to acquire for the service at a later stage.
The airline announced last year its decision to defer the inauguration of the Ireland-Los Angeles service in 1991. This arose as a result of the impact of the Gulf War on travel abroad by US citizens, the weak dollar and recession in the US.
Following a review of their plans for trans-Atlantic operations for 1992, Aer Lingus have confirmed to me that they are proposing to again defer the inauguration of the Ireland-Los Angeles service until 1993. This arises as a result of the increasing competition between US and British carriers on trans-Atlantic routes and the soft market conditions in the US. These are having a significant impact on the demand for direct services between Ireland and the US and on the economics of Aer Lingus trans-Atlantic services.
The first part of the Minister's reply is most disappointing. May I ask the Minister if it is not of urgent importance that another trans-Atlantic route be opened? Is he not worried about the serious downward trend in the number of tourists coming to this country? Will he now intervene with Aer Lingus to ask them to consider the opening of this route in 1992?
I have to leave it to Aer Lingus's judgment as to when is the best time for them to start the route. It is basically a commercial decision. I would not be in the business of forcing them to start a route unless they were satisfied as to its commercial viability.
Is the stop-over at Shannon responsible for their not becoming involved in this trans-Atlantic route and is it the reason it has been postponed until 1993?
The Deputy is injecting new matter into this question.
I am asking a very serious question.
It is separate and distinct from the question before us.
May I ask the Minister to intervene and ask Aer Lingus to reconsider this matter taking into consideration that an aeroplane was available and Aer Lingus refused to put that aircraft on the route?
Is leor sin.
Aer Lingus are keeping this route under review and are anxious to start the route as soon as it is commercially practicable for them. The Shannon situation may have been a factor in their assessment of the situation.
They gave the Minister an ultimatum.
Question No. 2, please.
Are they now waiting for the Minister's decision in so far as the Shannon situation is concerned?
I have called Question No. 2.
