24 September 1997
Ryanair calls halt to funerals into Knock Airport
By Aiden Henry
Ryanair has dropped a bombshell by deciding to stop carrying cargo on its flights into Ireland from Britain.
The shock announcement will have a devastating effect on West of Ireland families who will no longer be able to bring deceased family members home from England back through Knock International Airport for funeral ceremonies.
It has long been a tradition among exiles from the region to be buried in their native soil, and the opening of the airport had provided an ideal passage for funeral traffic since its opening in the mid-eighties.
Over the last number of years an average of three funerals per week arrived in Knock Airport. This will no longer be the case as those living across the water who wish to be laid to rest in their native country will now have to go through Dublin Airport. According to Tom Sharkey, Funeral Director in Ballaghaderreen and vice-president of the Irish Funeral Directors Association, the devastating news from Ryanair will make it very difficult for people living in England to afford the cost of being buried in Ireland.
"It will cost at least £1,000 extra to come into Dublin instead of Knock and travel time from Dublin could be anything up to seven or eight hours. This is terrible news and one that I can't understand. I feel very sorry for the West of Ireland people living in England and it is a sad day for rural Ireland" he said.
Ryanair Commercial director Tim Jeans said that the reason for ceasing its cargo operations was a result of its termination of the airline's contract with its cargo sales agent, Pace Airlines Services Ltd.
He continued: "This change he said would speed up passenger services and that their standard turnaround time will now be just 25 minutes." He also said that cargo on their flights only accounted for 0.5pc of its turnover and eliminating it would have no material effect on its finances.
Added Mr. Jeans: "We have concluded that, without substantially increasing our cargo rates, the returns from cargo do not justify the operational impact it has on our turnaround deadlines. We therefore believe that we can further improve our on-time departures and customer service by dispensing with cargo at present".
