€160m airport terminal opening hit by new delays

THE scheduled opening date for the €160 million debt-ridden new terminal at Cork Airport has been put on hold.

Yesterday, Cork Airport Authority (CAA) said delays in the final stages of construction meant that planned on-site testing of the new facility and training of staff had been put back.

The opening of the new facility, which has aroused heated debate between the airport’s authorities and the Government on the issue of the terminal’s 160m debt, will consequently be delayed.

The terminal was scheduled to open on May 10, but early June is now thought to be more likely.

“Cork Airport Authority has informed its employees and customers that, due to delays in the new terminal construction programme, access to the terminal for essential on-site testing, training and induction purposes will not be possible until May 8 at the earliest.

"The opening of the terminal for operational purposes, therefore, is not expected before early June. As the terminal completion dates become more definitive, an operational date will be advised,” yesterday’s statement said.

Meanwhile, the consultants appointed to deal with the debt issue, London-based Aviation Economics, are holding a series of meetings with the airport authority.

The consultants were appointed to develop a report for Transport Minister Martin Cullen following meetings with the Cork and Dublin authorities.

An emergency meeting between Mr Cullen and the CAA earlier this month was said to have been positive.

But the dispute is still far from being resolved.

This month, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which replaced Aer Rianta as the State company overseeing Dublin, Cork and Shannon, said the proposed separation of Cork and Shannon would be threatened if airport charges remained static.

The DAA also warned that Cork Airport’s independence would be threatened by the reluctance of the CAA to shoulder the debt associated with the new terminal.

DAA chairman Gary McGann said Cork should pay its own debt.

Despite rising passenger numbers at Dublin, Shannon and Cork, the authority warned that it would take at least another year to break up the State’s three airports.