Aviation Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2018

Thursday, 25 January 2018

Ceisteanna (191)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

191. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the advices provided in the notice dated 11 December 2017 sent by the European Commission to the Commission for Aviation Regulation, the reason the PSO licence for the Kerry to Dublin and the Donegal to Dublin routes has been awarded to an airline that will lose its EU operating licence; when the PSO routes will be re-tendered in advance of the UK leaving the EU in March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3801/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The new PSO contract to operate the air routes linking the airports in Donegal and Kerry with Dublin for the next four years was awarded to Stobart Air UC following an EU public procurement process.  Stobart fulfilled all the current necessary requirements including holding a valid Air Operator Certificate and a valid Operating Licence.

The situation in the aviation sector post Brexit, including any transition period, is obviously unclear at this stage and the notice of December last from the European Commission, to which the Deputy refers, was directed at air carriers, reminding them of the implications arising from the current EU rules applicable to air transport. Essentially, the notice amounts to a call to all air carriers holding an EU operating licence to make appropriate preparations for Brexit, in the event that EU rules in the field of aviation no longer apply to the United Kingdom following their withdrawal from the European Union.