Written Answers. - Air Access from USA.
Robert Molloy
Ceist:
252
Mr. Molloy
asked the
Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications
the improvements, if any, in air access arrangements from the south east and the south west of the United States in 1995 and 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4346/96]
I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 31 January last to Questions Nos. 36 and 54 tabled by his colleagues, Deputy McDowell and Deputy O'Malley.
Since then I can report that World Airways, which was one of the airlines with which my officials met last year, has announced plans to operate scheduled air services from May to October this year on the following routes:—
Los Angeles/Belfast/Shannon/ Los Angeles
Newark/Belfast/Shannon/Newark
Newark/Shannon/Newark
Newark/Dublin/Newark
Philadelphia/Newark/Belfast/ Newark/Philadelphia
World has further announced that these services will link in with the internal and international services of another major US carrier — Continental Airlines at its Newark hub, as a result of a new code-sharing arrangement between the two airlines.
American Transair, which only operated charter flights to Ireland up to now, has filed its plans to operate scheduled services between New York and Shannon, Dublin and Belfast during the peak season. It will also continue to offer a charter programme from other US points.
As regards the steering group set up by myself and the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Deputy Enda Kenny, to look at Ireland-US access issues and to which I also referred in my reply of 31 January, I can now indicate that I have received a preliminary report from Aer Rianta and Bord Fáilte in this matter. I have now asked the two bodies to review their preliminary report having regard to the recent developments in the Ireland/US market i.e. the new services and the new code-sharing arrangements announced by Aer Lingus and Delta Airlines and by World Airways and Continental Airlines. I expect to have a final report in the matter in the coming weeks.
