Aer Lingus access to European routes
Burke urged the Minister to pursue more profitable European routes and pickup rights for Aer Lingus. The Minister agreed that some countries applied liberalisation selectively, said routes had been withdrawn after Aer Lingus invested in them, and had raised the issue with EC colleagues.
I am glad that all the money will not have to be given in one year. Will the Minister use his powers and authority to try to secure more profitable routes within Europe which have been closed to Aer Lingus, for example, pickup rights through Manchester and other areas? They have lost out on these because of the restrictive practices operated by various governments.
Comment on this
That is very much in line with my own thinking. There has been much ado about the liberalisation of air policies in certain countries but the selective liberalisation has always been when it suited their own national interest.
Comment on this
Several countries which espouse liberalisation have undertaken restrictive policies. Aer Lingus have had the experience of spending a lot of money developing certain routes and then having those routes withdrawn from them by the country concerned. I have raised this with my colleagues in the EC.
