Aran Island residents call for Aer Arann services to be reinstated
Residents of the Aran Islands will tell the Gaeltacht Minister today that they want the Aer Arann flight service reinstated.
Last week it was confirmed that after 45 years, the Aer Arann contract is being awarded to a helicopter service from Galway in October.
A press conference is being held at the Connemara Coast Hotel, where representatives from the islands will voice their concerns to Minister Joe McHugh.
Tarlach de Blacam - campaigner in favour of Aer Arann air services - said that a helicopter service is not an adequate replacement.
"This is going to be hugely detrimental because a helicopter service is just not going to work," he said.
"No helicopter service to any off-shore island in Europe - no regular helicopter service [has ever worked].
"The most similar are the Scottish islands who are served totally by fixed-wing aircraft because of their reliability and because of the perceived safety of them compared with helicopters."
