Shannon Airport Discussion

**dahamsta** · 13/08/2007, 1:00 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Which ones.

This has nothing to do with the debate, get back on topic or don't comment any more.

**theworm2345** · 13/08/2007, 2:04 AM

I've flown into Shannon twice, I like it just fine, though I guess I'm not paying taxes to sustain it

**Lionel Ritchie** · 13/08/2007, 7:35 AM

Originally Posted by eamo1

(hope i spelled that word right).anyway,i always thought that it makes better sense to extend the runway in cork for transatlantic flights and also possibly Galway airport where they are extending it for jets already-although only for jets to go to southern and central europe,not yet for transatlantic but i can always dream.

It's different I'll give you that ...though if we're getting transatlantic flights to step down to smaller airports why not go the whole hog and move them to Knock? ...or Spiddal?

**OneRedArmy** · 13/08/2007, 8:52 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Which ones.

There only is one Revenue Commissioners and I pay my tax to them.

Incidentally, presuming where your question is coming from, they are actually called HM Inland Revenue in the UK.

Back in your box.

**dahamsta** · 13/08/2007, 10:19 AM

OneRedArmy, how could you not get that when I told NeilMcD to stfu, it was time for you to stfu too?

Keep on-topic in this forum, all of ye, or ye'll be banned from here.

**Dodge** · 13/08/2007, 10:32 AM

Bit harsh? He was only clarifying it for him

Anyway back on topic... Is there some way we can blame the unions or possibly the civil service for this?

**Newryrep** · 13/08/2007, 10:50 AM

i think the 'uproar' is because the shannon heathrow route was supposedly profitable but just not profitable enough.

If Aer Lingus rent out slots to third parties for say X euros a year and they make less than X euros a year from shannon /heathrow you could see where they are comming from. however i would imagine it is commercially sensitive figures.

Then again if Airline B who is renting the slots pays X euros to Aer Lingus and still makes a profit why dont Aer Lingus fly the route and make a fortune ?

Personnaly i hate Heathrow with the only fond memories being when flying home for Xmax slightly inebriated

**Schumi** · 13/08/2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

If Aer Lingus rent out slots to third parties for say X euros a year and they make less than X euros a year from shannon /heathrow you could see where they are comming from. however i would imagine it is commercially sensitive figures.

It's pretty unlikely that Aer Lingus are renting slots for less money than they could make using them themselves.

**OneRedArmy** · 13/08/2007, 11:39 AM

The load factors are actually fairly high on the Shannon-Heathrow route and are unlikely to be improved that much from Belfast (based on using the same A320 aircraft rather than the A321's they use on the Dublin-Heathrow route which is what I understand they plan to use).

Where the increased profits will be made is in the considerably lower costs incurred by being able to outsource pretty much everything in Belfast, something which the unions won't let them do in Shannon.

On the Heathrow slots issue, the reason they were included as a specific issue in the prospectus and the Govt retains a golden share is precisely because they are more valuable to other carriers to be used on long-haul routes.

**Dodge** · 13/08/2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Where the increased profits will be made is in the considerably lower costs incurred by being able to outsource pretty much everything in Belfast, something which the unions won't let them do in Shannon.

I knew it...

**Lionel Ritchie** · 13/08/2007, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

i think the 'uproar' is because the shannon heathrow route was supposedly profitable but just not profitable enough.

I've heard that too. Between that and ORAs assertions that they'll be able to "outsource everything" in Belfast there's shades here of Irish Ferries moves to reflag and restaff their ships.

As Moore McDowell pointed out, during that dispute, in his inimitable deadpan not-my-problem style ...it's not about the route being highly profitable ...it's the extra 20-25% profitable it could be ...(if they'd only be allowed dump their workforce and pay misfortunes from Indonesia �1 an hour instead).

If either scenario is, as bald student seems to claim, "Capitalism serving the greater good" then it's as a temporary by-product of what capitalism does best -namely centralisation of amassed wealth.

**OneRedArmy** · 13/08/2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

I've heard that too. Between that and ORAs assertions that they'll be able to "outsource everything" in Belfast there's shades here of Irish Ferries moves to reflag and restaff their ships.

As Moore McDowell pointed out, during that dispute, in his inimitable deadpan not-my-problem style ...it's not about the route being highly profitable ...it's the extra 20-25% profitable it could be ...(if they'd only be allowed dump their workforce and pay misfortunes from Indonesia €1 an hour instead).

If either scenario is, as bald student seems to claim, "Capitalism serving the greater good" then it's as a temporary by-product of what capitalism does best -namely centralisation of amassed wealth.

Whilst I accept the general point, in fairness Lionel there's a bit of a difference between "paying misfortunes from Indonesia €1 an hour" and paying Irish/British (lets not get into this one!) non-Unionised staff the Norn Ireland market rate for a particular job.

This won't be the last time jobs re-locate North of the border now that the peace looks like its holding and the cost base has gotten so high in the Republic.

As an (admittedly fairly ropey!)proxy, a sizeable number of the Derry City supporting regulars in Dublin who I would bump into at games have returned North as jobs have become a bit more plentiful up there combined with living prices, which despite the sharp increases in house prices recently, are still considerably lower than down here.

**OneRedArmy** · 13/08/2007, 12:32 PM

Latest news out appears to cast some doubt on motives behind the protests.

Shannon supporters are very cool on Cityjet launching a route to Paris (despite access to a hub airport being supposedly the core concern) and apparently Aer Lingus are preparing to release figures that contrary to the business lobby's figures last week, less than 25% of route users actually transferred onwards through Heathrow.

reder · 13/08/2007, 1:25 PM

Guys, can I ask, what was the original purpose of the Shannon stop-over? It makes little or no sense in my eyes to have Aer Lingus planes bound for the US stopping there.

Was it simply a dig out for the West?

**Lionel Ritchie** · 13/08/2007, 1:41 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Whilst I accept the general point, in fairness Lionel there's a bit of a difference between "paying misfortunes from Indonesia �1 an hour" and paying Irish/British (lets not get into this one!) non-Unionised staff the Norn Ireland market rate for a particular job.

Agreed ..an all fronts

Guys, can I ask, what was the original purpose of the Shannon stop-over? It makes little or no sense in my eyes to have Aer Lingus planes bound for the US stopping there.

Was it simply a dig out for the West?

I would Imagine it harked back to a day when commercial aircraft needed a refueling stop and then became a lumbering institution.

**dahamsta** · 13/08/2007, 2:19 PM

It was originally a necessity, because planes couldn't make it as far as Dublin/London/etc on a single fill. When the necessity disappeared, GOV.IE made it a requirement for planes crossing our airspace because... well, because it's the Oirish way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_stopover

adam

**beautifulrock** · 13/08/2007, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

It's different I'll give you that ...though if we're getting transatlantic flights to step down to smaller airports why not go the whole hog and move them to Knock? ...or Spiddal?

Lionel you can fly to New York and Boston from Knock already.

**Dodge** · 13/08/2007, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by beautifulrock

Lionel you can fly to New York and Boston from Knock already.

Not with a proper airline Due to the high number of complaints being received for this airline, Skytrax
are unable to guarantee that all of them will be published.

**beautifulrock** · 13/08/2007, 2:59 PM

Heard there was some issues early on, seems it has not improved that would be a pity as would take some pressure of Dublin Airport. Been to Knock a few times on short haul and is such a great airport. Quick in, quick out and you can get a decent bacon sanger, what more would you want