Chamber calls for airport boards’ autonomy
The board of directors in Shannon, Cork and Dublin should also report directly to Minister Brennan, the chamber said.
Launching the chamber’s report on Shannon Airport, Towards an Even Better Future, president Tom McInerney said:
“If Shannon is to be a fully independent company, then a number of conditions must be put in place at the time of independence for it to maximise its role.”
These conditions include:
A detailed business viability plan.
An agreed capital expenditure programme.
Debt free airports
Guaranteed funding for marketing budget.
A new board seeking external strategic partners for complimentary commercial projects.
Shannon becoming a benchmark efficient, low cost airport.
Financial provision being made for rationalisation of the cost base.
The chamber believes the concerns of Aer Rianta employees over any possible change in corporate management at Shannon must be addressed.
It said mechanisms must be put in place to protect the employees interests so that they would not be disadvantaged by any change in the corporate management of the airport.
The chamber is recommending that Aer Rianta International remains part of the new independent Shannon Airport Company.
This would underpin Shannon’s long-term viability and reduce the necessity for the airport to receive long-term aid, it said.
Tadhg Kearney, a member of the chamber’s Shannon Airport Monitoring Committee said no serving politician should sit on the new board.
“It must be made up of people of substance in the business, financial and aviation world, and must combine both national and international expertise,” Mr Kearney said.
The Coalition has already indicated in its Programme for Government that it favours giving greater autonomy to Shannon and Cork Airports.
Minister Brennan is expected to make a final decision on the structure of the new boards in three airports by mid-November.
