Madam, - The action of Aer Rianta unions and staff in causing such disruption on Monday afternoon at Dublin Airport was quite disgraceful. It had nothing to do with customers and with what is best for the travelling public - and after all, it is to serve this travelling public that they have jobs.
Given the Government assurances on jobs, one is left wondering just what is behind such actions, because what the unions say doesn't add up. However, one clue was in what one union spokesperson said on RTÉ television news when he referred to CIÉ. Now what, pray tell, does this have to do with Aer Rianta?
Competition has shown time and time again that it can deliver lower prices to consumers. In the aviation business, Ryanair can rightly claim to have changed the way people travel, not just in this country but throughout Europe. Competition means we now expect to find a low-cost fare option available whenever we travel. Because of competition, the number of people using our airports has increased dramatically and no doubt, this growth has provided many new job opportunities, in the airport and outside.
More passengers in Shannon and Cork is good news for business and tourism in those areas and for the overall economy; and there is every reason to believe that independent airport operators in those locations can attract extra passengers because they will be able to compete freely. The unions are out to show that they will decide economic policy in this country. Should they win, we can all pack up and leave (while there are still airports open). - Yours, etc.,
T. GERARD BENNETT,
Templeroan Park,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
Madam, - Minister Brennan's announcement on the break-up of the Aer Rianta monopoly is strongly welcomed by the entire Irish Tourism sector, including the airlines. We support the Government's plan to end the Aer Rianta monopoly, and to allow Cork and Shannon, under their own local managements, to compete for business with airports across Europe. Competition works and benefits the consumer.
We agree with the Government that competition lowers costs and improves services - monopolies do not. It is time the Government completed its plan for greater competition, in the interests of Irish consumers and Irish tourism, by proceeding immediately with competing terminals at Dublin Airport.
The unions are against competing terminals - they don't like competition, because it is not in their vested interest. Competition is in the vested interest of consumers, because it lowers prices and improves services - airlines compete, taxis now compete, why not terminals? Competing terminals will create 5,000 new jobs and bring 20 million visitors to Ireland, and many new routes to France, Italy and Spain from €29. The unions are against this job creation opportunity, against the massive influx of new visitors to Ireland, and against Irish consumers having the choices currently enjoyed by passengers travelling on Ryanair's 68 European routes from London Stansted airport.
If the unions had their way, perhaps the flight arrival announcements at Irish Airports would say "Welcome to Ireland, please adjust your watches, as local time is 1979." - Yours, etc.,
PAUL FITZSIMMONS,
Head of Communications,
Ryanair,
Dublin Airport.