“The airport is in decline, which is why we need to have a change of policy.”
SHANNON Airport will have to wait until the end of this year to learn if it is being given its own autonomy by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Predicting that Shannon’s future will “not just be passenger movement, but will also be in the aviation industry,”
the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar was answering questions in the Dáil concerning the consultancy report from Booze and Co which examined the possibility of separation from the Dublin Airport Authority for Shannon and Cork airports.
It had been expected that the findings of the report into the future of the Mid West facility would be presented to Cabinet early in the New Year.
However, the minister says he will not be able to publish the report in full as it contains sensitive business information. He said he will bring an abridged version before Cabinet and later to the Dáil.
“Shannon Airport has a great future as a passenger airport but also as one which is concerned with avionics and aero-industry but the status quo there is not working and the airport is in decline, which is why we need to have a change of policy in that regard”.
Minister Varadkar said he agreed that “certainty is required as to what the policy is.
“Rightly or wrongly, between 2008 and 2011, no such certainty existed because decisions were postponed. I anticipate that during the course of this calendar year, we will have certainty as to the future of the airports and will be able to move on from there”.
He said it is his view that “separation of the airports would be beneficial and that it would be beneficial to have greater competition among the State airports.
“While that is one proposal, it can only be done on a sustainable basis. It is very important that whatever is done with Cork and Shannon will ensure these airports are sustainable financially and are in a position to prosper, develop and compete.
“This must be ensured and I must be confident this is the case before proceeding with separation or deciding not to opt for separation”.
