Council boss admits Galway Airport looks grounded for good

The Chief Executive of the County Council is holding out little hope that Galway Airport will ever be used again for commercial flights.

Kevin Kelly was speaking at a local authority meeting yesterday (Wednesday), where he was asked about the status of the 115-acre site, which is jointly owned by the city and county councils.

On Tuesday, all aviation services ceased at the airport, as an agreement with private operator Carnmore Aviation Ltd expired.

Mr Kelly stressed that talks had not broken down and said discussions are ongoing with several interested parties on a lease for the short-term usage of the airport.

“There is no reason to expect that anybody will be able to come forward with a proposal to resume commercial [flight] activities on the site,” he said.

When pressed for an update on talks with Carnmore Aviation, he said: “We are in discussions and there is no agreement with the operator . . . that’s not to say discussions are at an end. They continue to take place with Carnmore Aviation and others who had expressed an interest in using some or all of the site.

“It’s not a case that the local authorities want to cease aviation services on the site. It’s a case of finances, and we are not in a position to financially support an operation that isn’t able to stand on its own two feet,” said Mr Kelly.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.