Moroney defends Aer Rianta’s record

AN Aer Rianta chief yesterday rejected a call by Shannon Development for a new independent public body to run Shannon Airport.

Martin Moroney, Director of Shannon, said that the prospect of a stand-alone new public body for Shannon having to compete openly with Dublin Airport is not an attractive proposition.

He pointed that other airports at Kerry, Knock and Galway which are run by local boards have not been able to operate at the same level of business as Aer Rianta at Shannon and they have to rely on subsidised services to operate.

Speaking at the launch of the Shannon Development’s Annual Report 2001, the company’s Chief Executive, Kevin Thompstone, said that Shannon Airport now needs to be run by an independently regional public body, led by a board with strong commercial, financial and aviation expertise.

“With 6,000 seats cut per week at Shannon, there was a need for a new approach to ensure the survival of the airport as an engine for tourism and industrial growth in the West of Ireland,’’ he said.

Mr Moroney strongly defended Aer Rianta’s record at Shannon.

“As a commercial airport management Aer Rianta has served the region very well by developing Shannon Airport with its new facilities and air services.”

“This has been achieved in close consultation and co-operation with the business and tourism interests in the Shannon Region.

“We see no reason for a new independent public body to run Shannon Airport as the present structure has worked well.

I would agree that there has been an imbalance in economic development towards the East Coast, but this has been caused by other factors.

“More road infrastructure, industrial development and a more concerted promotion of tourism products in the West of Ireland is required to reduce the regional imbalance.’’