http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/bre...breaking78.htm
Air link with San Fransisco announced
A direct flight between Dublin and San Francisco was announced tonight by Transport Minister Martin Cullen.
Aer Lingus will connect the two cities with a new non-stop service starting in the autumn.
Minister Cullen unveiled the new route during a meeting with the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, as part of an official St Patrick's Day visit to the USA.
"Ireland has strongly supported the efforts of the EU and the US to conclude an Open Skies agreement that would open access to markets and maximise benefits on both sides of the Atlantic," said Minister Cullen.
"The proposed agreement is a good deal for Europe and represents the best possible opportunity at this time to reach a deal following several years of negotiations at EU/US level."
Transport ministers will meet in Brussels next week to vote on the draft agreement which aims to liberalise the aviation market across the Atlantic. The agreement will have significant economic benefits for both Europe and the US, and the San Francisco Bay area in which 11% of the population is of Irish descent.
"The Bay area market potential for Ireland is extraordinary," said Mayor Newsom. "In addition to the Irish heritage of many San Franciscans, we are one of the nation's top tourist destinations and also home to an extremely well-travelled, high demographic community.
"In finance, services and the high-tech industries, our commercial links with Irish industry are strong and growing."
Although Aer Lingus currently serves four cities in the USA, Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, the airline has not been able to fly to other US cities because of a current agreement with the US that restricts accessible US destinations.
Mr Cullen said the benefits of open skies for Ireland are even greater in terms of increased tourism and economic activity.
"The prospect of unrestricted air access between Ireland and San Francisco is long overdue and a direct air link between Ireland and San Francisco would be fitting given our already well established common interests," he added.