Cork and Shannon airports must make profit, warns Varadkar

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has warned that Cork and Shannon Airports must make a profit, or at least break even.

Minister Varadkar said that he is still to decide what to do in the wake of the Booz Consultants report on the ownership and structures of the airports.

He has told the Dáil that one airport cannot be allowed to financially prop-up another.

"Any model, if it is to be a success, whether it's a CIE-type model, or whether it's independence, it can't be a success, it's not a success in my view, if an ongoing subsidy or subvention is required," he said.

"Really all of these airports should be able to turn a profit and at least break even.

"If it is the case that an interim agreement is needed, so be it."