The Government will ensure that there is no hard landing for Shannon airport in any new "open skies" regime, according to the Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue. He was speaking at the launch of new transatlantic services by American Airlines out of Shannon and Dublin.

Last year, the final report of the Tourism Policy Review Group recommended the end of the Shannon stopover. The Minister said yesterday that talks between Europe and the US on "open skies" are to recommence in February of next year.

He said: "The Government will try to ensure that there is no hard landing for Shannon and any transitional arrangements will be as beneficial as possible to the Shannon region."

The current arrangement requires an equal number of flights between Dublin and Shannon to the US.

The Minister yesterday welcomed American Airlines' decision to announce new routes to the US from Shannon and Dublin.

The new daily services - which commence from May 1st - will go from Shannon to Boston and Dublin to Chicago.