Airport chairman unhappy with passenger growth

THOUGH passenger numbers at Kerry Airport have risen by almost 100,000 in the past two years, airport board chairman Denis Cregan says passenger growth is still not satisfactory.

Last year, there was a throughput of 385,000 passengers and this year’s number should be well in excess of 400,000.

Mr Cregan, in an address to be delivered at the airport annual general meeting, on July 11, is also unhappy with the performance of Aer Arann, which provides a daily Kerry/Dublin service.

He is concerned about the number of cancellations by Aer Arann and the punctuality of flights.

Such problems have led to many complaints from passengers and the performance is described by Mr Cregan as “less than satisfactory”.

He also says some of the alterations to the Aer Arann schedule are not to the advantage of the passenger.

Reporting steady financial progress in 2005, Mr Cregan said revenues rose from €6.38 million to €6.52m and pre-tax profits went up to €496,000.

A development levy charged to passengers realised €1.55m, an increase of €25,000.

Most of the airport’s €1.6m expenditure went on wages and salaries for the 52 staff.

Capital expenditure for the year amounted to almost e1m, mainly on improving traffic flow, car parks and fire-fighting equipment.

The airport is, at present, finalising plans for a €8m expansion of terminal facilities to cater for a projected increase in passenger numbers to between 800,000 and one million, in the next six years.