Noonan suggests BA for Shannon routes

Fine Gael Limerick East TD Michael Noonan has issued an invitation to British Airways to provide a Shannon-Heathrow route to replace the service being discontinued by Aer Lingus.

In an open letter to BA's chief executive Willie Walsh, the former Fine Gael leader said he had the backing businesses from the area and the wider public.

Mr Noonan's letter comes in the wake of Aer Lingus's decision to scrap its services from Shannon to London's Heathrow.

The company plans to use the landing slots at Heathrow, which currently serve the Shannon route, to facilitate a new service from Belfast.

The decision has come in for widespread criticism and one of the region's biggest employers has said 600 jobs were in doubt in Shannon becuase of the loss of the route.

Mr Noonan's letter also alludes to the threat to jobs in the area by saying "the attractiveness of the region to industry however, is largely dependent on daily transatlantic flights and the Shannon-Heathrow connection".

The letter continued: "The Aer Lingus flights, were I understand, operating profitably, and as you know, they also served as feeder flights for British Airways overseas flight.

"I would be grateful if you would give this invitation careful consideration on commercial grounds, with a view to opening discussions with the Shannon Airport Authority at the earliest possible date" the letter continued.

Mr Walsh served as chief executive at Aer Lingus before taking up the post with British Airways in 2005.