Willie Walsh has said it would be "madness" for Shannon Airport to establish its own airline. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Mr Walsh, who is CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said airports should focus on running airports.
A Shannon Airport-run airline was suggested last week at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. Shannon Airport's chairman designate Pádraig Ó Céidigh said such a move was possible but a "huge, huge task". "I hear lots of crazy ideas from politicians but that’s probably one of the most crazy ones I’ve heard," said Mr Walsh when asked about the idea. "Running airlines and running airports are two completely different things," he added.