The European Commission will not insist that the Shannon transatlantic stop-over is dropped under its open skies policy, according to the Fianna Fáil's Connacht-Ulster MEP, Mr Seán Ó Neachtain.
The MEP said he had received this assurance from a senior EU official, Mr Ludolf Van Hasselt, in Brussels last week. Mr Hasselt is head of the European Commission's unit on air transport agreements.
Mr Ó Neachtain said that this assurance was very significant, and would underpin the recent negotiations by the Minister of Transport, Mr Brennan, with the US authorities.
"Under the EU's open skies policy, if strictly adhered to, Shannon will lose out," Mr Ó Neachtain said.
"However, I have been informed that the European Commission understands the regional significance of Shannon, and will not seek strict adherence. In fact, it will leave it up to the Irish Government to negotiate directly with the US," he said.
Currently, every transatlantic flight into Dublin has to have a corresponding flight to Shannon, and Aer Lingus is allowed to fly to five US airports - Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington-Baltimore and Los Angeles.
