Ryanair have endured a disastrous September due to the continued furore over pilot rostering. Several routes over a prolonged period were axed due to staff shortages affecting over 700,000 passengers. Michael O’Leary wrote to pilots offering them better terms and acknowledging that they were indeed valued rather than his previous iteration that pilots were “precious”.
During their pre-budget submission, ICTU have implored the Government to drop the 9% tourism rate citing that it has cost the State €2.2bn in taxes since implementation.
According to the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, the Irish economy is expected to see a drop of up to €70m in revenue due to the downturn in the number of visitors here from the UK. Visitors from the UK currently spend 40% of their holiday money on food and drink in Ireland. In 2016 visitors spent €1.1bn but H1 saw a fall-off of 6% in UK visitors meaning a loss of €70m if H2 follows suit.
Hotel prices in Europe have risen 3.6% during the first 7 months of the year with the average daily rate coming in at €109.71. occupancy levels average out at 70.6%
The first floating boardwalk in Ireland has opened in Co Leitrim at Acres Lake between Drumshanbo and Carrick-on-Shannon measuring 600m. It completes the final stage of the Shannon Blueway and this leg comes in at €500,000.
The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation is seeking investment of €60m per year for 10 years from the Government in a bid develop further tourist attractions. Currently the group receives €106m over 6 years which they have described as ‘wholly inadequate’.
Pat McCann of Dalata, the largest hotel group in Ireland believes there is no way that 5,000 extra hotel bedrooms can be delivered in Dublin by 2020. Up to 3,000 additional rooms are likely to be added instead. 2018 will see 1,200 new rooms added in Dublin with Dalata accounting for 50% of these. Dalata saw profits increase by 80% for H1 vs H1 in 2016.
Air Canada are due to launch new routes next summer from Dublin and Shannon with Dublin to Montreal and Shannon to Toronto scheduled from June 2018.
US: international visitors to the USA have fallen by 4% YoY during Q1 due to visa restrictions and brand image issues.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation has allowed extra flights (two at the moment) to depart from Dublin airport between 6am to 8am for next summer. Aer Lingus has criticised the decision saying the airport was congested as it was and that it would inevitably lead to delays. Many of Aer Lingus flights have onward connections.
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