State support sought for aviation industry
AS the shadow of closure of their Ryanair business for the winter hangs over Cork and Shannon airports due to COVID restrictions on flights, Cork East TD James O’Connor has called for state support for the aviation sector.
“We need to get clarity on international travel on and off the island, and we need to put a stimulus package in place to sustain the aviation industry over time,” Deputy O’Connor said in the Dáil.
“We need to recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic will be with us for the long term and we need to plan accordingly.
“Frankly, too many livelihoods are at stake.”
Deputy O’Connor highlighted the need for a high level of state intervention, which was recommended by the task force report on aviation sector provided to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
“This report stated very clearly that the State is required to intervene with our airports.”
During media interviews last week Ryanair’s boss Michael O’Leary expressed further frustration at the difficulties
being caused to his company and other air travel providers by the ongoing restrictions being imposed on passengers.
“You should be aware that if these quarantine restrictions from EU states are not lifted before the end of September, we will have no alternative but to close our Cork and Shannon bases on a temporary basis for this winter season.
“In those circumstances all pilots and cabin crew will be put on unpaid leave from the
end of October.
He is unlikely to have been pleased by the publication of a new green list last week which dropped a number of destinations from the list which had been in force since earlier in the Summer.
Tourism and aviation industry representatives in Cork and throughout the Munster region have expressed alarm at the possibilities of knock on effects for their sectors if Ryanair close their businesses in Cork and Shannon as they have threatened to do.