Sir, - The merging of two state airlines on the Dublin-Amsterdam route is resulting in exorbitant fares. An economy ticket for next week costs £607, according to the Aer Lingus website.Why allow two virtual state monopolies to share flights without competition? Please, Minister, allow Ryanair or some other low-cost airline to compete against this cosy cartel. Must it be more expensive to fly to Amsterdam than to the US? These costs are impeding the expansion of smaller Irish firms into Europe. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Corcoran, Arklow Shipping Ltd., North Quay, Arklow.