Regional airports under threat as Bord Snip urges end to public service routes

THE future of regional airports such as Kerry, Galway and Donegal are again in the spotlight after the Bord Snip report said they should no longer benefit from state funding.

The report recommended the ending of the public service obligation (PSO) routes which are mostly operated by Aer Arann and bring €15 million to regional airports. It also recommended the ending of the €2m operational grant for the six airports, mostly based along the west coast, when the current round ends in 2010.

The report by economist Colm McCarthy also said the Government should reduce capital grants of between €4m and €27m promised for the regional airports in 2007 and due to be provided for building projects this year. The recommendations place regional airports under an increasing threat of closure.