• 13 Jan, 2011
• Business, Nature

Ireland West Airport Knock responded to the news that the existing PSO service that operates on a daily basis from the airport to Dublin will no longer be supported by Government as part of the review of funding of PSO services. The loss of this important service will impact on the local business and tourist/leisure communities and also present further challenges for the airport in terms of ensuring its’ ongoing business sustainability.

Ireland West Airport Knock welcomed a number of the recommendations of the ‘Value For Money Review’ report also published yesterday where it highlighted that further exchequer supports would be made available to the airport in the future to support the continued growth and expansion of critical infrastructure and business development.

The airport further pointed out that in the past seven years €26m has been invested to provide a new terminal, improved passenger infrastructure, runway end safety area upgrades, security enhancements and a new upgraded instrument landing system, befitting an international airport for the region. Of this €26m the airport self funded €14m of the investment monies.

The airport has invested heavily in attracting new international services from the UK, Scotland and mainland Europe which means the airport is now served by major international airline brands such as bmibaby, Flybe, Ryanair and Aer Lingus  and major tour operator brands such as Panorama, Sunworld, Sunway and Topflight which has helped build passenger numbers to over 600,000 annually serving over 25 international destinations.  The airport continues to work hard to build sustainable air services to international destinations from both an outward and inbound tourism and business perspective.
 
The strategy has been to create ease of travel for passengers, meet best standards in safety and reliability and ensuring best use of Government supports to deliver these. Recent investments in high quality CAT 11 landing systems has hugely supported this strategy in putting the airport on a par with other international European airports.
 
The Value For Money review by Government in part recognises these advances by Ireland West Airport Knock.  However, far more remains to be done.  Tourism bodies in particular need to put far more resources into promoting tourism from abroad through the many access points we now serve from the UK and Europe and supporting the introduction of new destinations from Europe and the US.

Government support for the creation of an international hub connection to destinations such as Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle would also greatly enhance the airports contribution to regional economic growth.