Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that the Government is favouring Shannon Airport over Knock insisting that the MidWest airport hasn’t received any state subsidy as part of its separation from the Dublin Airport Authority earlier this month.
Mr Varadkar was speaking in the Seanad last night in response to a complaint lodged by Fianna Fail Senator Mark McSharry to the European Commission over what he feels is a breach of competition laws in relation to the process.
The Minister rejected Senator McSharry’s allegations and said that establishing Shannon on a debt free status did not amount to some form of subsidy or bailout.
Meanwhile the newly appointed chairperson of the new Shannon Airport Company has confirmed that negotiations are underway to secure services between the airport and a hub in mainland Europe.
Rose Hynes was outlining strategies to grow business at Shannon to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport this morning.
She confirmed that negotiations were ongoing with a number of airlines on new international routes and these included a potential link with a large German airport which would boost connectivity between the MidWest and other international destinations.
She told the committee members that sustainable growth was key for the airport.
