Coastguard service’s future in doubt as airport to cut jobs
The board of the South East Regional Airport at Waterford issued protective notice to its 22 employees due to the airport’s uncertain financial future. The airport has been hard-hit by Euroceltic Airways’ decision to withdraw its services from Waterford with effect from January 26, 2003.
The helicopter search and rescue service operated from the airport on behalf of the Irish Coast-guard is in doubt due to a lack of funding to provide back-up staff and services.
Nicholas Fewer, chairperson of the company which runs the regional airport, said it was with deep regret that the airport employees were being given protective notice in the run-up to Christmas.
Mr Fewer has also informed Captain Liam Kirwan of the Irish Coast Guard that the cost to the airport of the necessary cover to provide back-up for a 24-hour service, which was to come into operation in January, could not now be met.
Euroceltic Airways announced its decision to pull out of Waterford last week. The airline, whose majority shareholder is Noel Hanley, had hoped to attract 40,000 passengers to its Luton service this year which would have allowed it to break-even on its operations.
He said that during the last decade, only five out of the six regional airports were being subsidised directly and indirectly through the introduction of Public Service Obligation routes. “Waterford was always excluded and is still excluded. This decision alone has meant that the airport is not financially viable,” Mr Fewer said.
“The South East Regional Airport did receive €410,000 from the Government as a marketing grant this year, as did the other regional airports, but our minimum running costs are more than twice that. With the loss of Euroceltic and this marketing grant, we would need more than €800,000 to stay open and provide the level of manpower and services which are required.”
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