Cancellations by passengers on transatlantic flights have helped airlines clear more than half the backlog of passengers affected by last week's disruption to services. Most transatlantic flights to and from Ireland are again operating to normal schedule.
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus estimated that more than half of the backlog has been accommodated on flights since the resumption of services last Saturday. Some 8,000 passengers were affected in Ireland by the cancellations last week.
"No-shows and cancellations by passengers due to travel to America have allowed us to cater for passengers affected by last week's disruption," he said.
Aer Lingus resumed its normal transatlantic schedule yesterday, operating eight flights into and out of Irish airports. Scheduled services to and from New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Baltimore are operating as normal. More than 1,000 passengers are yet to be dealt with by the four airlines at Shannon which operate transatlantic flights.
Mr Tom McInerney, Aer Lingus general manager, corporate affairs, said around 800 passengers who were unable to travel to the US between last Tuesday and Saturday were being placed on the eight flights now leaving Shannon daily.
Mr Gerry Boland, Royal Jordanian's sales manager, said flights to New York and Chicago had resumed and about 120 passengers stranded at Shannon had been re-booked.
Delta Airlines said it is still experiencing operational and crew constraints on its JFK route that have resulted in the cancellation of services into and out of Dublin airport. Continental Airlines has reported that most passengers affected by the cancellation in services have been catered for.
Transatlantic passengers are advised that check-in now begins 3 1/2 hours before departure to facilitate increased security.