Air link to US critical for Irish Exporters – Bi lateral Agreement With US
Must Now Be Pursued.

The Irish Exporters Association today (13^th December 2006) reacted to the lack of progress in opening up air transport between the EU and the US by stating that:

“The US is the largest destination for air freight exports out of Ireland. Last year €13.1 billion worth of Irish exports was air freighted to the US. This is 67% of total airfreight exports from Ireland”

John Whelan, CEO of the Irish Exporters Association, went on to say that “Direct Air links to the US from Ireland, play a huge role in maintaining the competitive supply of exports across the Atlantic. Airfreight supply on a regular and competitive basis is vital to the multinational companies looking for fast access for high value goods to the US”.

Multiple routes to key locations in the US are increasingly being sought after, stated the Irish Exporters Association. The expected opening up of the US airfreight routes under the “blue skies” negotiations has, to all intents and purposes, petered out.”
To secure competitive supply chain routings for Irish exports to the US, a bilateral agreement must be entered into, between the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department of Transport in the US”.

In conclusion, John Whelan stated that “We would urge Minister Martin Cullen to open up direct discussions with the US, as a matter of urgency, to secure direct access to multiple US destinations, from Ireland. He could be the difference between growth or stagnation of exports to the US”.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Mr. John Whelan, Chief Executive, IEA

Tel: 01-661 2182 / Mobile: 087 927 1243