Numbers fall but airport back in the black
There was a €1,799 operating profit after taxation as against a €44,803 operating loss for 2011.
Kerry Airport chairman Denis Cregan said that the fall in passenger numbers was unsatisfactory, but the facility continued to apply resources into route development to attract new routes and new airlines.
He also emphasised the importance of retaining the Government Public Service Obligation (PSO) grant, effectively a subsidy to airlines on regional routes.
“As a priority, the business needs to attract more passengers on all routes and, in particular, the maintenance of the Government PSO support on the Kerry-Dublin route is critical going forward,” he said.
Last year was the first full year of the new Kerry- Dublin (PSO) contract, started in Nov 2011.
Passenger numbers through the Farranfore facility fell to 286,000, mainly due to the loss of the Manchester service as well as fall in frequency on the Stansted and Hahn flights, according to the returns.
Turnover was up 26%, from €4.5m to €5.7m. However, administration costs were up 17%, from €3.7m to €4.4m, due to longer operating hours to handle the early and late flights to and from Dublin.
A sum of €1.7m was spent during the year on safety and security, including new X-ray facilities and runway developments.
Kerry Airport has direct flights to six destinations: London-Stansted, London-Luton, Frankfurt-Hahn, Alicante, Faro and Dublin.
The Kerry Airport plc AGM will be held at the Earl of Desmond Hotel, Tralee, on Jun 27, at 11.30am.
