TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey threatens not to separate Cork airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) if the debt situation is not resolved.

CRUNCH talks yesterday between the Transport Minister and the boss of Cork Airport over the €200 million debt and rising board tensions were described last night as “constructive and useful”.

THE Dublin Airport Authority was sufficiently concerned in June about the possible loss of Shannon Airport’s Heathrow slots that it contacted Aer Lingus with an incentive offer.

THE chairman of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Gary McGann, has written to the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) and told them they must accept a €100 million debt.

THE High Court was yesterday asked to dismiss a challenge by Ryanair to the planning permission for a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

RYANAIR, Ireland’s largest airline has issued 2007 traffic statistics for its Irish routes, which show that Ryanair will carry a record 13 million passengers to and from seven Irish airports in 2007.

THE bitter stand-off over Cork Airport’s potentially crippling debt is set to drag on.

GOVERNMENT plans to establish three independent airports were plunged into a fresh crisis last night after Cork Airport’s board was told it cannot achieve independence unless it accepts a €100 million debt.

IN response to Michael Cawley of Ryanair (Letters, February 23), I would like to clarify what I meant by “planning issues” in my letter (February 16).

THE current Ryanair website includes a blistering attack from the airline on the aviation regulator with regard to possible increases in charges at Dublin airport.

IRISH air passengers were landed with a triple blow yesterday after a raft of airport and fuel charges were announced.

BUSINESS plans to establish Cork and Shannon as independent airports have finally been sent to the Government for approval, it was confirmed yesterday.

THE Dublin Airport Authority was strongly criticised yesterday for its failure to inform colleagues in Shannon about the planned closure by Aer Lingus of its Shannon-Heathrow route.

DUBLIN AIRPORT is to get busier after An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the main passenger terminal to be expanded.

ONE of the country’s largest HIV/Aids support groups is seriously concerned after a massive jump in the numbers of people contracting the disease.

THE costs of modernising Cork airport include an expense overrun of between €100 million and €140m.

THE board of Cork Airport last night defended its decision not to appear before a Dáil committee yesterday.

DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) has warned it could miss its target of having a new terminal built by the summer of 2009 if it does not get final planning permission by the end of the month.

THE aviation regulator has dealt the Dublin Airport Authority a severe blow in its efforts to recover the €1.2 billion airport expansion cost, by ruling out a demand for a rise in passenger charges.

THE Dublin Airport Authority is scrapping a scheme that allowed new airlines using the facility to have a discount on passenger charges.