Is the ‘will they, won’t they sell’ saga nearly over for Aer Lingus?

The head of Cork Airport has called for financial support to market the South-West as a tourist destination.

Cork County Council hopes to co-ordinate a major push to convince the transport minister and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to cut a deal with Cork Airport on its likely independence and to ease crippling debt.

Dublin Airport Authority has given more than 1,000 of its staff until March 15 to accept a lump sum payment after their defined benefit scheme was frozen at the end of last year.

Cork and Shannon airports suffered significant declines in their traffic movements last month, with Cork now down almost 12% this year compared to the first four months of 2014.

A topic of debate in this column and in other circles over the past year has been the performance of Cork Airport. 

Dublin Airport Authority has claimed a decision of the regulator related to airport charges will adversely impact its plans for a major commercial initiative known as the Dublin Airport City development.

More than 60 former aviation workers who face a cut of up to 60% to their pension entitlements yesterday staged a protest at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair is seeking a free deal in a fresh proposal to Government to deliver 5 million passengers over the next five years at Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

Diary June 9

The fact that Etihad’s energetic chief executive is showing interest in our one-time national carrier spells good news at a time when Ireland’s economy is in rebuilding mode, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

The Dublin Airport Authority has conceded for the first time that Shannon, which it controls, has a viable independent future.

Thousands of jobs can be created for Shannon Airport and the wider mid-west if the Government moves to establish a debt-free, independent Shannon Airport.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that his department paid international consultancy firm Booz Consultants €119,350 for its report on the future of Cork and Shannon airports.

Cork Airport is repeatedly stymied by the Dublin Airport Authority and it will never get transatlantic flights if it remains under DAA control, according to the Cork Business Association.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and the wider Cabinet will make a decision in the next five weeks on the future of Shannon Airport, while decisions on the futures of Cork and Dublin airports will be long fingered until the end of the year.

Cork Airport would benefit slightly if it was removed from the control of Dublin Airport Authority — but Shannon would benefit hugely as DAA ownership is a “significant threat to its viability”.

The Government’s decision to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority has been broadly welcomed, but questions remain about the move.

The Government plans to use tax incentives and valuable land banks to attract foreign investment and tourism ventures into the Shannon region.

Business and tourism leaders in the Mid-West have welcomed the plans to split Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority.