Airport AGM to reveal air link plans for the south-east

MORE flights between Waterford and Britain and plans for services linking the south-east and Dublin are expected to be outlined today as bosses at the South-East Regional Airport gather for their annual general meeting.

Passenger numbers for the first nine months of 2005 showed a 29% increase and the year-end figures to be released today are expected to reveal that the airport was never busier.

Today airport Chairman Nicky Fewer is expected to outline the steps he sees as necessary for South-East Regional Airport to make a further quantum leap that would see it develop additional services to Irish, British and European destinations, and leave it in a position to cater for larger jet aircraft which require a longer runway than is currently in place.

Responding recently to calls from business leaders Mark Bamforth of Genzyme and Frank O’Regan of Bausch & Lomb for a runway extension at the airport as well as the introduction of internal flights to Dublin, Mr Fewer said the issues identified by both were high on the airport’s agenda. “It is encouraging to have these very senior managers from two leading multinationals with significant operations in the south-east making the case strongly and publicly for further development at the regional airport and for the introduction of regular flights to and from Dublin.

“At the AGM I will bring forward proposals for a programme of capital expenditure at the airport that has the potential to see the facility expand to accommodate larger aircraft.

“This would allow us develop additional business streams, serve destinations beyond our current range with direct services and also facilitate growth in our non-scheduled services, as we would be in a position to cater for large corporate jets and leased aircraft that we cannot deal with currently. We had a particularly good summer and the feedback, time and again, from passengers is that they appreciate the convenience of flying through so accessible an airport where they encounter none of the high parking prices, long queues, congestion, delays and general hassles associated with flying through larger Irish airports.”

Commenting recently at the opening of the new Waterford Outer Ring Road, a route which will improve access to the airport, Transport Minister Martin Cullen promised to look very seriously at giving money to the airport to extend its runway.

“The development of our airport in Waterford is critical. The board that is there have incrementally grown that airport to ensure its based on solid foundations. I look forward to receiving from them a proposal with regard to their runway in the not too distant future,” the minister said.

Passenger numbers in all Irish regional airports have grown by over 200%, the minister added.

* Details of the scheduled services currently available at South-East Regional Airport (Waterford) are available at www.aerarann.com or from travel agents.