Trans-Atlantic Aer Lingus services to and from Shannon could be severely curtailed this winter unless Finance Minister Brian Lenihan rescinds the airport travel tax introduced in last December's Budget, the airline has warned.In a letter to Mr Lenihan yesterday, Aer Lingus chairman Colm Barrington said that all the carrier's US services to and from Shannon face "acute" challenges this winter. He also said that Aer Lingus services from Dublin to Washington and San Francisco are also under pressure.
The airport travel tax came into effect at the end of March, and levied a €10 charge on virtually all passengers departing from Irish airports.
Speaking to the Irish Independent yesterday, Mr Barrington declined to say whether trans-Atlantic services from Shannon to the US could be axed for the winter.
