Airport sees 2008 as record-breaker

WATERFORD Airport is flying high. Compared with last year, a dramatic 46% increase has been recorded in the number of passengers flying in and out of the airport, during the first half of 2008.

The company said yesterday it anticipated a record-breaking year for the regional airport which serves the southeast with scheduled flights to and from London/Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Lorient, Bordeaux, Faro, Malaga, Amsterdam and Galway.

More than 63,000 passengers travelled on scheduled services through Waterford Airport — up from 43,000 passengers in the same period of 2007.

Welcoming the passenger figures, airport chairman Nicky Fewer said: “The significant increase again underlines the strong demand that exists in Waterford and the southeast for convenient air travel offering easy access to Britain and Europe as well as to onward travel destinations via Manchester and Amsterdam in particular.

“The strong passenger demand reinforces our determination to continue working with airlines to roll out new routes and services that we feel will perform well in this market. We are also receiving support from those responsible for marketing the southeast to potential overseas visitors and the airport is increasingly recognised as a very valuable access point for inbound tourists looking to arrive in the heart of the southeast with the minimum of stress and delay,” said Mr Fewer.

Chief executive Graham Doyle added: “The increased passenger numbers endorse what we’re doing in developing Waterford Airport and have very positive spin-offs on a regional economic level.

“Our accessibility will also improve further shortly with the reopening of the upgraded road connecting us to Waterford city and the outer ring road. With road access to and within Waterford improving all the time, we are noticing a welcome upturn in the number of passengers using the airport from our natural hinterland counties of Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow,” said Mr Doyle.

“We continue to build awareness throughout the southeast about our various routes and progress in this regard is reflected in the numbers we’re achieving.”

Mr Doyle also confirmed that preparatory work is progressing on the airport’s capital development programme which is to see €27.7 million invested by the end of 2010, including €22.3m allocated under the Government’s Transport 21 plan.

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