Last week in the Dáil I asked the Taoiseach if his Government would use their appointees on the Board of Aer Lingus to protect vital connections from Irish Airports. This dispute could have major consequences for the number of Aer Lingus flights available from Cork Airport and the knock on impact on the Cork economy could be very serious.

View my question to the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach’s reply.

The Aer Lingus plan would see the number of pilots based in Dublin and Cork cut from 520 to 381. The plan also reduces by 336 the number of cabin crew and by 590 the number of ground staff in Dublin, Cork and Shannon. These cuts cannot but have an impact on flight connections from Cork Airport and this will cause problems to the wider economy.

This is an extremely serious issue. Some 1,065 cabin crew, ground staff and pilots who work for Aer Lingus stand to lose their jobs. These job losses will have an impact on connectivity. I asked the Taoiseach if he would indicate what the Minister for Transport has done in the context of instructing the Government-appointed members of the board of Aer Lingus to ensure that vital connection services from this island nation will not be affected?

Responding to my question the Taoiseach said:
“From all the information available, the Government is satisfied that a major restructuring of the group’s cost base is essential if Aer Lingus is to survive. The cost base of Aer Lingus is seriously out of line with that of its competitors. Airlines throughout the world are either rationalising or going out of business as a result of the global economic downturn. The Government wishes to see a strong and viable Aer Lingus in the future.”

I don’t think the Taoiseach understands the full impact the loss of connectivity will have on the Irish economy in places such as Cork. If it becomes difficult to fly directly to destinations such as Cork that will be a major problem for businesses located there already and those thinking of locating there.