Delta to drop Shannon - Atlanta for summer 2009

Delta Airlines have dropped the Shannon - Atlanta route for summer 2009. The airline will however retain the year round Shannon -JFK route.

Fine Gael's Deputy Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Clare TD Pat Breen said that this service is the latest victim of 'Open Skies' and this decision highlights the urgency of having the extension to the US Customs and Border Protection in place by July 1 as well as the need for the Government to undertake a review of the Tourism and Economic Plan for the region  to take account of declining competitiveness. I regret that Delta Airlines have taken this decision. It reduces the Gateway options for passengers travelling to Ireland from the United States apart from the fact that this service was very successful from the airport. However, I welcome the fact that they are to continue with their all yearly service to New York. Of course it also exposes the folly of introducing an Air Travel Tax at a time when the aviation and tourism industries in this region are in free fall. The Belgian Government has already cancelled their plans to introduce a departure tax and Ryanair has warned that 60% of their services to and from Shannon next winter will be axed."