Airport redevelopment cleared for take-off

AFTER months of speculation, the €140 million redevelopment of Cork Airport was cleared for take-off yesterday when contracts were signed by Aer Rianta and the builders, Rocon.

Whether the airport will still be run by Aer Rianta when the project is completed in November 2005, or by an independent body, will be known at the end of next month, when Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan is expected to publish future plans for the company.

Work will start next week and, during peak construction periods, nearly 600 people will be employed on the development.

The project will include the construction of a 25,000 sq metre terminal building; new airbridges linked to the terminal; 30 passenger check-in desks; and 4,500 new parking spaces, including a multi-storey, short-term car park capable of holding 600 vehicles.

In addition a new fire station will be built, along with new internal roads, three 45m baggage belts and 3,400 sq metres of retail/catering space.

“Following the recent completion of similar infrastructure at Shannon Airport, this major investment underlines Aer Rianta’s commitment to its three Irish airports and to the provision of the highest-quality services for all our customers who use them,” Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon said.

He reaffirmed his view that Ireland’s airports should remain under the umbrella of Aer Rianta, and added that the Cork project would be funded in part through borrowing.

The major investment is geared to provide for projected growth at the airport over the next 10 years, when passenger numbers are expected to reach three million per year.

Traffic through the airport continues to grow rapidly, having risen by 6% during 2002 to a record 1.9m passengers.

On current trends, the milestone of two million passengers per annum will be well surpassed by the end of this year.

The airport saw record traffic last Sunday, handling 11,283 passengers, one thousand more than its previous daily best.

Mr Hanlon said it was initially hoped to have the project completed by the summer of 2005, when large numbers of tourists are expected to fly into Cork to celebrate its European City of Culture status.

However, he said that contractual difficulties had impeded this.

“We will endeavour to shorten the time, but there is a tremendous amount of work to be done,” said managing director of Rocon Brendan Barrett.