New ‘planes for Aer Arann

Date Published: 31-May-2007

Aer Arann this week unveiled the first of ten new aircraft for its fleet. Costing a total of $180 million, it is hoped that by 2009 the other nine aircraft will be in operation.

The local economy stands to gain millions from this round of investment by Aer Arann in the Galway Airport. According to Padraig O’Ceidigh, one of the owners of Aer Arann – “this investment into Galway Airport is a vote of confidence for Galway. “Not only will this help the local economy in terms of tourism and employment, it will also help the local economy in terms of the €10 million in taxes per year that Aer Arann will pay the exchequer.”

Said Minister Éamon Ó Cuív TD: “I welcome anything that makes the West of Ireland more connective. “The State has to invest, but so does private industry. For every one Euro that the State invests, if the private sector does the same, then that means double the development.”

According to Garry Cullen, Managing Director of Aer Arann: “Our new fleet is the optimum choice for a friendly environment, even when compared with other forms of transport such as cars, buses and trains”.