Cullen tight-lipped on 2003 airport pledge

THE transport minister kicked for touch yesterday over the potentially crippling €160 million debt facing Cork Airport.

Martin Cullen said he wouldn’t comment on his predecessor Séamus Brennan’s promise in 2003 that the airport would start independent operations debt-free. Last month, the board of Cork Airport told an Oireachtas committee it was factoring the 160m cost of its new terminal into its business plan.

This is despite Mr Brennan’s comments at the announcement of the break-up of Aer Rianta in July 2003 that Dublin Airport would carry the debts of both Cork and Shannon. However, in Cork yesterday, Mr Cullen said it was not yet certain what the position would be.