Cullen holds key to air bridges
In a reply to a question from my Dáil colleague, Deputy David Stanton, on February 8, the Minster for Transport, Martin Cullen, indicated that based on information which he had received from the Dublin Airport Authority, "the main airline customers using Cork airport do not support the provision of air bridges as recently envisaged in the plans for the airport development programme and, accordingly, the current works do not provide for air bridges".
As I understand it, the proposed development at Cork airport always included the provision for air bridges. To fail to provide them at this stage would be extremely retrograde. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have indicated that they do not wish to use air bridges at Cork. However, if they were available at Cork airport and were being used by other airlines, then I believe Aer Lingus and all other airlines would follow suit if only in response to customer demand.
I also believe that the future expansion of the airport under the Cork Airport Authority will result in many other carriers perhaps including North American as well as European airlines using the airport. It is quite likely that those carriers and their passengers would expect air bridges in a modern European airport. The present airport layout means that many aircraft are parked a considerable distance from the terminal building. In poor weather this means passengers may have to walk up to 200 yards in wind and/or rain to reach the aircraft.
A decision by the Dublin Airport Authority to deny Cork airport the air bridge facilities would be extremely shortsighted. While it might save the Dublin authority the cost of such facilities now, ultimately the air bridges will have to be installed undoubtedly at far greater cost then.
The problem seems to revolve around three companies, all of which are the responsibility of Minister Cullen: the Dublin Airport Authority, which is refusing to provide the air bridges; Aer Lingus, which says it won't use them even if they are there; and Cork Airport Authority, which is seeking to have the bridges retained in the plans. They are all semi-state companies under the ultimate control of the Department of Transport.
The business community in Cork, as well as the travel trade, disability groups and other users of the airport, are all seeking to have the bridges retained. I have called on the Minister for Transport to re-examine the matter. I am convinced these problems can be resolved by firm action on the part of Mr Cullen and his department.
Simon Coveney TD, MEP
6A, Anglesea Street
Cork
