Latest news with #RegionalAirportsProgramme
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Shannon Airport expecting 100k passenger increase this winter
Shannon Airport is expecting to increase passenger numbers through the facility by 100,000 this winter, as a result of a new investment by Ryanair. The airline plans to add a number of new routes from the Co. Clare airport, as well as offering increased frequency on several other services. It says it will invest €87 million in an expansion of services from Shannon this winter. The company plans to base a fourth aircraft there, increasing flight frequency and allowing for enhanced flexibility. New routes will be offered to Madrid, Madeira and Lapland, in addition to extra flights to existing routes. The CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine, said the announcement would offer passengers greater choice and boost the airport's position as "a key gateway to and from the west of Ireland". She described the investment as an endorsement of the way in which the airport could assist in addressing regional imbalance and drive economic activity across the region. Ms Considine said there was a need for a new aviation policy to support the Airport's strategic importance and further develop its potential. She has called on the Government to expedite a review of the Regional Airports Programme, to allow for an increase in the passenger threshold for State aid. Ms Considine contends that an existing cap of one million passengers for such supports should be extended to three million. Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said the company's investment would lead to a 20% increase in the volume of passengers using the airline's services to and from Shannon. He said the decision underpinned a commitment to regional airports and its support for tourism activity in the region. Mr McGuinness said there was scope for further growth and said changes to the Regional Airports Programme, would allow for increased traffic to Shannon, Kerry and Ireland West Airports. Ryanair's overall annual traffic through Shannon Airport is forecast to grow to 1.6 million passengers, as a result of today's announcement. Speaking at the launch of the investment programme, Mr McGuinness again called on the Government to address the cap on flights into and out of Dublin airport. While he emphasised the potential for airports outside the capital to expand, he said the issue in relation to the cap at Dublin was a separate matter and needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Waterford Airport ‘left out once again' as nearly €8m in regional airport funding announced
Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien, announced the allocation of almost €8m in exchequer funding to regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, on Tuesday, May 20. The announcement sees a total of €7.823m going to Ireland West, Kerry, and Donegal airports, but none for Waterford Airport, which has seen its runway extension project stalled in recent years. William Bolster, director and board member of Waterford Airport, told the Irish Independent that they welcome all investment to infrastructural projects to the regions and in particular aviation, but 'unfortunately Waterford falls outside the criteria on the Regional Airports Programme due to the absence of a commercial carrier in place. 'Waterford Airport and the board are working very closely with Minister O'Brien and the Department to achieve the goal to have capital funding committed to allow a Jet Runway for the southeast region, we hope to have speedy conclusion to our discussion in the near future,' said Mr Bolster. SF Waterford TD Conor McGuinness sharply criticised the Government's latest decision to exclude Waterford Airport from regional airport funding allocations, describing it as a 'calculated and ongoing neglect of Waterford and the south east', and has called on Government Ministers John Cummins and Mary Butler to 'stop covering for this blatant disregard' and 'stand up for their county'. 'This announcement saw nearly €8 million allocated to regional airports in the west and south west, while Waterford was left out once again, despite having planning permission, private investment, and local authority co-funding in place for the long-awaited €12 million runway extension,' said Deputy McGuinness. 'Let's call this what it is - calculated neglect. Waterford Airport is ready to go. The project is costed, planned, and regionally backed. The missing piece is Government commitment. 'Instead, we see millions flowing to other airports while Waterford is passed over again. The runway extension would restore scheduled services and unlock real economic growth across the south east but, the Government continues to block it.' Deputy McGuinness said the silence from Waterford's Government TDs is no longer tenable. 'Minister Mary Butler and Minister John Cummins need to stop providing political cover for this ongoing snub. It's not enough to issue soft statements after the fact - they're part of the Government making these decisions. If they won't fight for Waterford, who will?' 'David Cullinane and I have been campaigning relentlessly to secure this funding. Last week we jointly raised the issue again in the Dáil. The Minister's excuses have run out. This is not a case of due process – it's a failure of political will, and it's costing Waterford jobs, investment and connectivity.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Deputy McGuiness added, 'Government inaction is holding Waterford back. Cummins and Butler must now call a halt to this calculated neglect, and demand that Waterford gets its fair share.' Speaking before the announcement, former independent TD for Waterford and now social advocate, Matt Shanahan, said the 'bludgeoned' aspirations of 2011 and 2017 Government programme promises to develop Waterford Airport can be 'clearly seen'. The Government 'has no desire to fund aviation activity in the South East region,' said Mr Shanahan. 'Opposition TDs will grandstand in press, social media and in the Dáil, but no way will their party leadership allow them bring a motion to the floor of the house on the issue to actually force serious debate. 'When people in Waterford ask why are we continuously denied any meaningful investment to create regional economic advantage, the answer has been the same for two decades - whichever party reps you follow, government or opposition, their party political interests always come before your economic needs. And their political reps' loyalty is always to the party, not you the people. 'Vested interests elsewhere have no interest in promoting Waterford or south east economies simply because they fear negative impact to their own - their political strength and the blind allegiance of their party reps means nothing changes in our favour. 'Fairness for Waterford was mentioned endlessly in every electoral campaign soundbite and leaflet in 2024 - once the election was done, just like before, both went in the bin. 'The phrase 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me' has been around since 1651 - it's obvious Waterford needs to pay more attention to history rather than listening to repeated empty political rhetoric. Mr Shanahan added, 'For the next four plus years while people in Waterford continue to decry our 'Oliver Twist' existence, the political parties will continue to smile in joined understanding of the old maxim - you broke it, you own it.'
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ireland West Airport receives €5.6 million Department of Transport funding
The funding was approved to support eleven projects eligible for support under the Public Policy Remit – Capital (PPR- C) and CAPEX funding schemes under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. This will fund various capital projects at the airport, including construction of a new aerodrome fire training centre, security systems upgrades, air traffic control charts, electrical infrastructure upgrades, a solar PV farm, an electrical hi loader, an electrical ambulift, an air traffic control engineering vehicle replacement, aeronautical ground lighting (agls) and airport carbon accreditation level 4 transition. The airport will invest over €1.1 million to support the completion of these projects in addition to the exchequer funding. Ireland West is expecting another record year for passenger numbers, which have grown 11 percent on the first four months of 2024. Last year, the airport welcomed 834,000 passengers, marking its busiest year since its official opening on May 30, 1986. Arthur French, Chairman of Ireland West Airport, welcomed the funding announcement, thanking Ministers Darragh O'Brien, Dara Calleary and Alan Dillon for their support. Mr French said the funding would help the airport 'maintain compliance with relevant EU safety and security regulatory requirements and also in supporting six key projects with a fundamental sustainability focus'. 'We thank the Minister and Government again for this strong show of support for the airport and look forward to the finalising of the new Regional Airports Programme later this year to cover the period 2026 to 2030 which will be a vitally important programme to support the airport's future growth and investment plans,' he added.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Almost €8m allocated to Ireland West, Kerry and Donegal airports
Almost €8m in Exchequer funding has been allocated to three regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. The funding has been allocated to Ireland West (Knock), Kerry and Donegal airports. Ireland West (Knock) is to be allocated €5.664m, Kerry will receive €1.813m and Donegal will get €0.346m for a total of €7.823m in funding. The funds will contribute towards capital investment in the areas of safety and security at the three airports, while also supporting projects with a sustainability focus, assisting airports to meet their carbon reduction targets as well as building resilience against climate change. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien that among the 33 projects being supported this year are Solar PV projects which will see the expanded production of electricity from renewable sources at Donegal Airport and the installation of a solar PV farm at Ireland West Airport. "Other significant investments include new safety and security upgrades at Kerry and Donegal airports as well as the continuation of the Aerodrome Fire Training Centre and Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade projects at Ireland West Airport," the Minister said. Mr O'Brien said this level of targeted support is an indication of the importance Government attaches to the country's regional airports which facilitate connectivity. "The targeted Exchequer funding provided by my Department to this sector has supported strong growth in passenger numbers, with overall passenger traffic across Irish regional airports last year 7% above 2023 levels. This positive trajectory has continued this year with 6% growth in passenger traffic across regional airports in the first quarter," he added.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Support for Shannon Airport from cross-party Oireachtas group
Shannon Airport has been at the centre of much controversy in recent times, thanks to allegations of flights carrying munitions landing there for refuelling, US troop carriers passing through and protestors targeting the facility, most recently this week. Controversies aside, the airport and the economic benefits it generates are considered vital to the Mid West region. Despite a very divided Dáil Éireann, that is a view shared by politicians from different parties that have now come together to form an ad hoc airport support group. Chaired by Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group which had existed in the past, consists of 24 TDs and Senators from the Government parties, Sinn Féin, Labour and Independents. The members are mostly based in counties Galway, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary. "TDs and Senators have banded together to re-establish the cross-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group. The Group's aim is to advance the cause of Shannon Airport and advance policy areas that support and enhance Shannon Airport," Deputy Cathal Crowe said. "Since its establishment the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group has already worked very well. We have good cross-party unity of purpose in terms of giving strong political support to Shannon. "Dublin Airport enjoys approximately 85% market share of all flights in and out of this country and this dominant position isn't good in terms of balanced regional development. "Hopefully the National Aviation Policy will soon be overhauled and this should present an opportunity for policies to be brought forward that will address that some of the current imbalances," he said. The Group is now in existence for five weeks and has already met twice, once in Leinster House and once at the airport itself, where members held discussions with airport management. "It's about pro-Shannon policy. We want Government funding from the Regional Airports Programme which is currently only available to airports with less than one million passengers. We want to get more flights to Shannon, and develop new commercial routes as well as support from the National transport Authority to develop a rail link to the airport," Deputy Crowe added. Last year, Shannon Airport catered for 2.1million passengers, exceeding its target for the year. The figure represents the highest number of passengers in 15 years, and 7% growth on 2023 numbers.
