Shopping restricted on US-bound flights from T2

IN-FLIGHT SALES:AIRLINES FLYING to the US from Dublin Airport through the soon-to-open second terminal (T2) will not be able to offer an in-flight shopping service.

Under US regulations, flights departing from T2 will be considered domestic rather than international and in-flight sales of products not for on-board consumption will be forbidden.

Representatives of Aer Lingus cabin crew have expressed concern that the changes will negatively impact on the take home pay of crew who make commission on in-flight sales but the airline says the benefits of the new arrangements will outweigh the negatives.

When the new T2 opens in November, Aer Lingus passengers will benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities which are already in operation at Shannon Airport.

The facilities will allow US-bound passengers to fully clear immigration, customs and agriculture controls in this country. Shannon and Dublin will be the only locations outside of North America with these facilities.

Aer Lingus is hopeful the CBP facilities will increase the appeal of Ireland as a transfer point between Europe and the US as people seek to avoid lengthy security, immigration and customs queues on US soil.

However, a representative of Aer Lingus cabin crew told The Irish Times that the changes would inevitably impact on the incomes of crew who earn significant commission on products sold on board flights.

He said consultation with the airline about the changes had yet to take place. A precedent is already in place on the Shannon-US routes and no items which are not for on board consumption are sold on its outward flights. It does offer an in-flight shipping service on east-bound flights.

The airline’s transatlantic routes make up 10 per cent of its business and a spokesman said the restrictions would have a limited affect on its business. “We are going to look at ways of boosting what we sell for in-flight consumption but it is important to stress that the benefits of CBP will be much greater than any negatives in terms of lost in-flight sales.”