Varadkar: Shannon could be run by private operator

THE Government is considering the option of handing over the running of loss-making Shannon Airport to a private operator in a concession arrangement, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar revealed yesterday.

Mr Varadkar said that as discussions with various groups continue about the future of Shannon and Cork airports, there was a particular difficulty with Shannon, which will lose around €8 million this year.

“In the past that was OK as the profits at Dublin (airport) would cover them,” he said. “Dublin is not making any money either, so we do need to ensure that Shannon is sustainable in its own right and turn it from what it is now, a liability for the DAA, into an asset for the country and the region.”

He said a number of options are under consideration at present.

Mr Varadkar said: “I would like to see Shannon operate as an autonomous entity running its own affairs, but that can only be done if it is financially sustainable.”

He said one option would be to operate Shannon on a concession basis.

“The airport assets would remain in state ownership, but the operator would be private,” Mr Varadkar said. “There are other options as well, for example making it a state company off its own bat. I am not convinced of any of them yet and that is the purpose of the process we are doing now.”

Mr Varadkar was speaking at Bunratty where he announced funding of €6.6m for nine outdoor tourism projects.