2 February 2016
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork Southwest Fine Gael TD Jim Daly says he remains confident that intense diplomatic pressure is the only way to ensure that the proposed Cork Boston Air route by Norwegian Airlines can succeed this year. The Clonakilty based TD was commenting this week after speaking with the Chief of Staff in the Department of Transport in the United States.
“I spoke by telephone on Monday with the US Secretary for Transport’s chief of staff Mr. Dan Kantz in Washington and advised him of the enormous potential this route offered to the entire region. I stressed to the Americans that while they may have to keep an eye to the unions and their wishes, the historic opportunity for an air connection between Cork and the Americas offered an enormous economic lift to an area of Ireland which had seen more than its share of immigration to the US over the last 170 years. I pleaded with the Secretary to act swiftly and sign the licence which would allow Norwegian Airlines begin flying between Cork and Boston this year in keeping with the Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US.”
Jim Daly also confirmed that he has requested the Taoiseach to also make a call direct to the US Secretary to secure this route for Cork Airport.