Tourism sector impacted by Aer Lingus flight disruption

Tourism providers are warning of the impact that Aer Lingus flight disruption is having on the holiday industry here since the announcement of flight cancellations.

Some international visitors are already changing their travel plans to other European destinations.

It comes after the airline confirmed that at least 244 flights have been cancelled for next week from Wednesday to Sunday due to industrial action being taken by the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association.

Tom Randles, the owner of Randles Hotel in Killarney in Co Kerry has described how the dispute has already affected his business at what is the peak time of year for international visitors.

He said if this disruption continues for the summer, it will be “very damaging” for the tourism economy.

He said they have already received over €10,000 worth of cancellations from overseas bookings at the hotel and he is worried that this will rise in the coming days.

He said he is hearing similar stories from colleagues across the hotel sector.

“I think it isn’t until travel agents arrive into their offices tomorrow in America and start to see the effects. So, I don’t think we will see the full effects until tomorrow,” he said.

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“Access is the lifeblood of tourism so if access is taken away to the country it is very damaging for the tourism product,” he said. “People can’t get here from Europe, from America.”

He said as well as bookings that have already been made that are under threat, it may also impact how people will book for late summer and into autumn.

He said if there are “perceived difficulties” around getting here it will have an effect “as people will go elsewhere”.

Mr Randles described the knock-on effect this is having on many other providers that are reliant on tourism.

Golfing across the island is a major attraction and it is big business but those working in this sector are already receiving cancellations.

Fiona Togher, General Manager of Carne Golf Links in Belmullet described the immediate impact for her business with cancellations within hours of the Aer Lingus announcement of flight disruption.

“It is really of major concern to us,” she said.

There’s also the worry for many concert goers who have booked to come here specifically for these events and have in many cases paid significant amounts of money.

It includes the thousands of Taylor Swift fans who are travelling from different parts of the world to Dublin ahead of her three sold out shows at the Aviva Stadium from Friday.

Carrie-Ann Corbett, who lives in London, had her tickets to see Taylor Swift eleven months ago and while her flight is not cancelled, she has “done everything possible” to ensure she does not miss the concert.

“Our flights haven’t been cancelled. However, we have booked the overnight ferry to Dublin from Holyhead at another cost of £300 on top of what we have already spent.”

She said while it would be much easier to fly “there is no guarantee they are not going to cancel more flights”.

She said she has heard of many others who are travelling from America to London, with their connecting flight from London to Dublin with Aer Lingus being cancelled.

“And it is really upsetting and a lot of them have young children. And they are coming here specifically to see Taylor Swift.”

Many like Carrie-Ann are doing the same to protect their travel plans with no indication of when or if industrial action can be averted.