Decision to axe vital route 'shortsighted'

August 08 2007 04:49 AM

WITHIN hours of the Aer Lingus announcement yesterday, one businessman who uses the London-Shannon route up to 20 times a year expressed his "anger and absolute disappointment" at the "shocking news".

Mark Quinn, an Irishman living and working in London, wrote to Chief Executive Dermot Mannion and Commercial Director Enda Corneille to express his irritation at "this shortsighted and bad decision".

Mr Quinn said he used the route at least once a month and could recite the flight schedule at will.

Mr Quinn said he could not understand why Shannon should suffer in order to facilitate the Belfast expansion.

He pointed out that the Shannon-Heathrow route was successful "despite flight reductions over the years and the timings becoming less convenient than they once were".

He stressed that Heathrow was a vital link for business and tourism.

GRAINNE CUNNINGHAM