The future of a £2 million purpose-built Russian village at Shannon is in jeopardy because of the scaling down of Aeroflot operations at the airport over the past four years.
Opened in October 1992, the village has 24 five-bedroom houses and nine two-bedroom apartments on which there is still a loan outstanding.
Originally Russian crews were based in Limerick and then at the Kincora apartments at Drumgeely, Shannon. So successful was the venture initially that four additional houses were added to the scheme.
At one time over 225 Russian crews were based there when up to 1994 Aeroflot had 2,500 operations a year through Shannon. Last year this number fell to about 600 and from next Friday the company is to by-pass Shannon with the Moscow-Washington weekly service, which is to be operated by new long-range jets. This, however, is subject to a further review.
Mr Boris Krivchnko, the Aeroflot general manager for Ireland, has said the aim is eventually to eliminate fuel stops wherever possible. He said, however, that he was hopeful of two new services a week being introduced linking Shannon with Moscow and Havana.
He was confident that if the services could be made commercially viable, Shannon would always be included.
Mr Jim Woods of Newmarketon-Fergus, who was the builder and developer of the Russian village, said: "I am concerned about its future. If we could continue for another 3 1/2 years, we would be able to break even."
Mr Woods, a former Clare hurler, with Mr P.J. Ryan of Limerick, who manages the complex, are now the main shareholders, with Aeroflot having a lesser financial interest. The company is called Dacha Development Ltd, dacha being a Russian villa or holiday home.
Mr Ryan, a former hotel manager whose company, Management and Catering Services, runs the village, said he is still hopeful as "there is goodwill between the Russians and Shannon where they have built up an infrastructure and have connections going back almost 20 years."
At present there are 15 staff at the village, which is half the number once employed there. Earlier this week there were 80 people staying in the accommodation, including some Russian students.