Improved roads threaten to derail air routes

Regional airports may have to look to international destinations to bring in some public service obligation funding, finds Seán McCárthaigh.

THE link between the recently opened 29km dual carriageway on the N6 between Kilbeggan and Athlone and Ireland’s aviation industry may not be immediately obvious but the country’s rapidly improving road network is placing fresh doubts over the commercial future of some of the country’s regional airports.

Similar upgrades along most of the main national routes out of Dublin combined with improved rail services are threatening the long-term viability of air services between the regions and the capital due to reduced car and train journey times on such routes.