#AranIslands - Aer Arann Islands has given notice for termination of its PSO contract for the Aran Islands two years ahead of schedule, as RTÉ News reports.
The airline will end its flights between the islands and the Galway mainland at the end of December this year — once again throwing into doubt the future of the islands’ decades-long air service.
The current PSO contract was only signed in January last year after months of uncertainty, and should have secured flights between Inis Mór, Inis Meann and Inis Óirr until the end of 2020.
However, it is understood that the imposition of additional passenger fees for unscheduled journeys became a sticking point just weeks into the new arrangement.
Without mediation to resolve the issue, the airline says it can no longer continue the contract as it stands.
The news comes six months after the signing of a new ferry contract to guarantee daily ferry service to the islands until November 2022.