Airline to halt carriage of dead bodies

Aer Lingus was yesterday urged to reverse its decision to end bringing home the remains of Irish people who have died in the UK and Europe.

Arising from its decision to end all short-haul cargo services from and into Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports from next January, grieving families will no longer be able to use the service that Aer Lingus has provided for decades.

Yesterday, the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) expressed its concern and said it would be writing to Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh urging him to reverse the decision.

IAFD spokesman, Mr Gus Nichols said: "The impact will be quite considerable. Throughout each year, there are probably several hundred deceased Irish citizens who are brought back by Aer Lingus to our main airports."

A spokeswoman for Aer Lingus confirmed yesterday that the decision relating to the end of short-haul cargo service also affects the repatriation of remains. Aer Lingus said the transition to a new fleet of Airbus aircraft on short haul routes was the main reason for phasing out the cargo service.

Mr Nichols said: "I'm sure Aer Lingus have sound economic reasons for phasing out cargo, but this is different - it is someone's mother, someone's father, someone's grandparent. We never considered it as cargo and I dislike the term."

"Ryanair ended the service a number of years ago and Aer Lingus appear to be slavishly following the Ryanair model. I don't believe that this decision is going to save them very much money at all, as it is only a tiny number of flights that carries someone home, back to Ireland," Mr Nichols said.