Waterford Airport welcomes funding report

A RECOMMENDATION for continued government funding as part of a value- for-money review has been welcomed by Waterford Airport.

However, management at the regional facility have reacted with disappointment to further delays to funding for a runway extension which would help boost passenger numbers.

A report by a government steering committee recommended cutting subsidies to some regional airports but said funding should continue for Waterford.

Chief executive of Waterford Airport Graham Doyle said the report acknowledges the importance of the facility to the further development of tourism, business and inward investment in the south-east.

Waterford is the second most used regional airport, after Knock, in terms of the percentage of overseas visitors who use the airport.

Over 50% of all traffic through Waterford Airport represents visitors from Britain.

“I have a committed belief that passengers directly accessing the south-east by air are much more likely to stay longer, resulting in a higher spend locally in the region,” Mr Doyle said.

Meanwhile, the report notes the IDA’s view that air access to the regions was important to multi-national investors, with an airport journey time of about an hour considered satisfactory.

There was bad news for Waterford, however, when the report failed to recommend immediate funding for the airport’s runway.

The Government previously agreed to fund the €8 million project but that commitment was frozen amid cutbacks in 2008.

Mr Doyle said: “This is disappointing given the very positive references to Waterford Airport’s potential to be of real benefit to the development of tourism in the south-east and its acknowledged importance to the retention and development of business investment in the region.

“However, it is clear we have a challenge ahead in meeting the needs of airport users and regrowing our passenger numbers. I believe that with the continued support of the people of the south-east and the collective efforts of IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and business groups in the region, we can further develop our inward tourism and investment in the south-east.”