The Guvnor
6th Oct 2001, 12:46
From today's Telegraph:
Ahern seeks rescue plan for Aer Lingus
(Filed: 06/10/2001)
A RESCUE plan to save Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, is be discussed by the company's board, unions and government officials, Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, said yesterday.
Transatlantic bookings with the state airline have fallen by 80 per cent since September 11. The company was now losing IR£2 million [about £1.7m] a day.
Describing the company's situation as "serious", Mr Ahern said European Union regulations prevented governments propping up national airlines.
"This country has to deal with the Aer Lingus crisis," said Mr Ahern in Killarney. "The government will be working with the board and the unions on a viable plan."
The general workers' union Siptu said it was inevitable that EU rules would have to be changed.
"The EU might be beginning to accept the fact that if they don't put aid into airlines in Europe, particularly in the transatlantic areas, whenever there's a pick-up in the aviation industry the only airlines left flying will be the American airlines," said Noel Dowling, a union spokesman.
"The Americans can put billions into their airlines but Europe has to sit back and watch its airlines disappear." Mr Dowling said unions accepted there would be job losses and that drastic restructuring was needed.
Ahern seeks rescue plan for Aer Lingus
(Filed: 06/10/2001)
A RESCUE plan to save Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, is be discussed by the company's board, unions and government officials, Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, said yesterday.
Transatlantic bookings with the state airline have fallen by 80 per cent since September 11. The company was now losing IR£2 million [about £1.7m] a day.
Describing the company's situation as "serious", Mr Ahern said European Union regulations prevented governments propping up national airlines.
"This country has to deal with the Aer Lingus crisis," said Mr Ahern in Killarney. "The government will be working with the board and the unions on a viable plan."
The general workers' union Siptu said it was inevitable that EU rules would have to be changed.
"The EU might be beginning to accept the fact that if they don't put aid into airlines in Europe, particularly in the transatlantic areas, whenever there's a pick-up in the aviation industry the only airlines left flying will be the American airlines," said Noel Dowling, a union spokesman.
"The Americans can put billions into their airlines but Europe has to sit back and watch its airlines disappear." Mr Dowling said unions accepted there would be job losses and that drastic restructuring was needed.