NO one area of activity will save Shannon- it has to be a jigsaw, it was claimed by travel agent Tony Brazil, at a meeting of city council.
“A transhipment operation, allied to new airline services, would give Shannon a very significant opportunity to raise a lot of money, and this is what I hope the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, is talking about in the White House at the moment”.
He revealed he was alerted that new airlines were poised to operate into the airport next year.
Mr Brazil, who last week criticised City Hall’s Transportation Committee for not having as a priority issue, the future of Shannon Airport on the agenda, said that in his opinion, the Shannon Industrial Estate should be amalgamated into the airport.
“The Minister for Transport has indicated that he would prefer that Shannon Airport be retained in State ownership but there are people who have indicated they are willing to invest in Shannon.
“I’m personally having concerns about giving concessions to run the airport for 20 years – I have a problem with that and I’d be very slow to say”give work to the concessionaires as they are operators rather than marketers”.
Recommending the establishment of separation for Shannon from the DAA and an independent board of directors, Mr Brazil said;
“We would need a high quality board which can contribute and a strong management, which in a matter of time could get 2.5 or three million passengers”.
Pointing out that there is a concern that job security could be jeopardised if Shannon goes private, Mr Brazil added:
“My concern is that we should have an opportunity to make our own points”.
Cllr Diarmuid Scully, said there is general support locally for Shannon’s separation from the DAA ,and Cllr Michael Hourigan asked:
“Where are we now with regard to the Lynx project – Dublin has contributed €5 to €6million to the project but there’s a shortfall in the funding at the moment- Lynx management is gung-ho for Shannon”.
Mayor Jim Long recommended that under the guidance of Mr Brazil the committee should produce a statement of its proposals for Shannon’s future.
