New Shannon to Chicago air route

US-BASED airline United is to launch a new route from Chicago to Shannon Airport next June, The Irish Times has learned.

The route will operate five days a week from June 6th to August 26th for the peak summer season. This will be a welcome boost for Shannon as it moves towards separation from the Dublin Airport Authority.

Details of the route will be announced in Shannon today but the launch was revealed by United president and chief executive Jeff Smisek in Chicago yesterday at an international media day hosted by the airline.

Mr Smisek said the route would offer “more choice and convenience” to passengers.

United already operates a year-round daily service between Newark airport in New Jersey and Shannon.

The Shannon flight will depart Chicago O’Hare airport for Shannon each day except Tuesday and Wednesday, at 6.10pm. It will return from Shannon the following morning at 7.25am.

United will use a Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 169 seats.

United is the world’s biggest airline. It operates year-round services from Newark and Washington DC to Dublin.

The airline also has a code-sharing arrangement with Aer Lingus.

At the end of this month it will close a joint venture with Aer Lingus on a route from Washington DC to Madrid.

United was formed two years ago from the merger of United and Continental airlines, both US airlines.

* Telecom giant Motorola has lost its bid to halt an action for €138 million damages against it over the provision of broadband services in Ireland.

Motorola Ltd is being sued by the Imagine Communications Group over alleged breach of agreements related to the planned rollout of a broadband network in Ireland using Motorola’s wireless WiMax technology.

In his ruling on Motorola’s preliminary application yesterday, Mr Justice Brian McGovern dismissed Motorola’s bid to have the case against it struck out.

Motorola rejects the allegations against it and contends it abided by its contract.