Revamp of Kerry airport another step towards connectivity in South-West, Taoiseach says

New facilities include enhanced immigration and customs areas, larger baggage belt, improved bathroom amenities, and an extended departures area which opened to passengers in July

Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Kerry Airport with customs officer Jillian Condin and her dog Gus. Pictures: Domnick Walsh 

The multimillion euro redevelopment of Kerry Airport marks a further step in investing in connectivity infrastructure in the South-West, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin said connectivity was key to tourism, inward investment, and to the people living in the region, as he officially opened the airport's revamped facilities on Monday morning.

When asked if he saw continued growth and support for the three regional airports of Cork, Kerry and Shannon, he noted there had been a revival of the airports since covid. 

At the time it was felt this would take a decade “but actually it didn't, it only took a year or two and we were now looking at a record year in Kerry airport”, Mr Martin said.

In terms of the Macroom bypass which had led to faster times to Kerry, as well as the airport, Mr Martin said such connectivity was creating economic opportunities for people to stay and live in Kerry, in their communities, and localities, he said.

“We all aspire to that,” Mr Martin said. "We can’t condemn some parts of the country to an absence of connectivity to the outside world. That would not be balanced or fair,” he said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the official opening of the new arrivals Hall in Kerry Airport. 

The Government was also examining a PSO (public service obligation grant aided regional flight) between Derry and Dublin, Mr Martin said.

There was an absence in the North-West of connections in both rail and air. “Some regions can really be left behind if there is not even basic infrastructure”.

Mr Martin said there had to be “perspective” in the climate debate.

“In terms of climate, the focus has to be on changing the composition of aviation fuels, which will have the most effective impact on the climate situation," Mr Martin said.

The new facilities in Kerry include enhanced immigration and customs areas, larger baggage belt, improved bathroom amenities, and a modernised public foyer, as well as an extended departures area which opened to passengers in July.

Work on the two-phase project, costing €5m, commenced in September 2024 and was completed on schedule in July 2025.

Kathleen O’Regan-Sheppard, deputy chair of the board, this morning recalled how in the early days, the private airport made more money from sales in the airport bar than from flights. She said the airport recorded more than 417,000 passengers in 2024 and was heading towards 430,000 in 2025. 

Kerry Airport was “a living testament to what vision, community good leadership can achieve”, she said.