I had Captain Gerry Fahy today. Nice competent captain who inspired a sense of well being amongst the assorted travellers on board. First Officer Kevin was an irritating mumbler though, so much so that no one caught his second name. Celia and Dana were stewarding my end of the plane. Dana was dour and efficient. Celia was as gamey as they come. If she’s not getting her bag of coal tonight then I’m a monkeys uncle.
Anyway there was a good old dust up getting onto the plane. Though only a third full some old hag who was top of the queue took exception to the crew waving through some mate of theirs ahead of her. Still having got onto the plane second the hag then inexplicably chose one of the deadmeat seats, row 26 seat A. A surer way of not surviving a crash than sitting in 26A on a 737 I don’t know. Personally I sit in 33D every time 33C at a push. Fuck your window seats. You’ll have a great view of your doom, but you’ll never get out over the bollix beside you if he snuffs it in the crash. And don’t start me on AerLingus. It’s Ryanair all the way for me. How often are the words airline crash juxtaposed with the words cash strapped regional airline?
Carnage trying to get out of Barcelona last night by all accounts. Flights delayed and ultimately cancelled. French air traffic controllers on strike causing the problem apparently - isn’t it always?
I was delayed getting out of Girona by an hour and a half. Captain Gerry Fahy laid the blame squarely at the door of the French air traffic controllers.
It was therefore that rare beast - a delayed Ryanair flight. Still Girona airport was a very comfortable spot to while away the time. Indeed it had massive outdoor terraces airside where you could pass the time smoking and drinking to your hearts content. [quote=“farmerinthecity, post: 668286”]
Carnage trying to get out of Barcelona last night by all accounts. Flights delayed and ultimately cancelled. French air traffic controllers on strike causing the problem apparently - isn’t it always?
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The Government has announced plans to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority, and bring it together with Shannon Development into a single entity.
The new body will have a commercial mandate in public ownership.
It is expected the move will be welcomed by businesses and industrial interests in the mid-west, who believe that independence from the DAA is in the best interests of the future viability of Shannon Airport.
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said: “This is a significant step in developing the aviation sector in Ireland and securing the future of Shannon Airport. It heralds a new era for the Shannon region.
"I firmly believe that this is the best way forward for both Shannon Airport, Shannon Development and the mid-west region.
“We want to recapture the pioneering spirit of the people who gave us the airport and the Shannon Free Zone concept, so that we can provide exciting and innovative opportunities which benefit business, tourism, and job creation in the region, and across the country.
“Our task now to develop these proposals in more detail.’’
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said: "This announcement represents a new start for jobs and enterprise in the Shannon region.
“In developing our proposals, we were always focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for enterprise development and job-creation in the region.
“By combining, into a new entity, a strong, independent Shannon airport authority with the extensive property holdings, expertise and experience of Shannon Development, we can focus the State’s resources on developing a strong aviation industry in the area.”
Minister Varadkar told business leaders in Limerick and Shannon last January that substantial change was needed if the disastrous loss of passengers and revenue in recent years was to be halted.
Passengers through Shannon have halved to 1.6 million in the five years from 2007, mainly through the loss of Ryanair services and the loss of Aer Lingus winter transatlantic services.
A recent report by the international consultants Booz said Shannon faced a significant threat to its future viability under its current ownership arrangements with the DAA, and separation from it offered the best opportunities for growth.
Shannon Airport has annual losses of €8m, and a long-standing debt of €100m.
