Phil Hogan
Ceist:161 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when 200 staff will be relocated from Dublin Airport to Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Transfer of Staff.
Aer Lingus has informed me that the numbers of crews based in Shannon are 15 pilots, including the fleet captain, and 62 cabin crew. Due to the heavy training programme of B747/A330 crew conversion and the significant amount of extra flying associated with the World Cup airlift, it will be some time before the full complement of the Shannon crew base is in place.
Aer Lingus has further informed me that the figure of 200 has been reduced for the following reasons: (a) Originally all New York flights were to be crewed from the Shannon crew base and the year round servce was to operate Shannon-Dublin—New York—Dublin—Shannon. With the introduction of daily year round direct services operated by the new A330 aircraft from both Dublin and Shannon, the company state that it would be illogical and inefficent to crew the Dublin direct services from the Shannon crew base and (b) The new A330 aircraft requires less crew per aircraft.