Passengers plunge by 28% at GalwayAirport

Date Published: 02-Jun-2010

PASSENGER numbers using Galway Airport fell by almost 28% last year as fears have been expressed about its future.

And there has been a warning this week that unless it receives continued financial backing from government over the coming years, its continued operation will hang in the balance.

Figures reveal that in 2008, the airport accommodated a total of 267,000 passengers but last year this fell to 193,000, which is mainly attributed to the economic slump.

Monetary turnover at the airport also slumped by almost 30% during the same period as concerns have been expressed for employment at the facility.

But the airport is fighting the recession and the losses caused by the ash cloud by introducing new flights to Belfast (with a connection to the Isle of Man) and Cork while there are also plans to get further into Europe.

Manager JoeWalsh said that annual funding from the Government was intended to cover operational costs and said that if there was a threat to the airport it would have a huge negative impact on industry in Galway.

In 2008 the airport at Carnmore had a turnover of €6.47 million but the turnover in 2009 had fallen to €4.55 million, according to figures seen by The Connacht Tribune.

Now, Galway East TD Paul Connaughton has urged the Government to maintain its funding for the airport or the consequences could be detrimental. He explained: “The future of Galway Airport hangs in the balance this month as the Government reviews the financial supports the airport will get over the next few years.”

Deputy Connaughton met with the management of Galway Airport and said that any reduction in the present funding to the airport could be serious. “It could have horrendous consequences which would directly hit industrial, commercial and tourist interests in the city and in the west generally.

“There is a direct linkage between job creation, the maintenance of existing jobs and the survival of the airport.

“Every worker who is employed, particularly in the industrial section in Galway could be negatively affected if the airport is not allowed to continue at its present level of activity,” Deputy Connaughton said.

Joe Walsh said that between 60% and 70% of inbound passengers to Galway Airport were business related and he believed that the presence of the airport had a direct link with jobs being retained in the city and county.

He said that it was the long term ambition to achieve a throughput of half a million passengers a year and believed that this was achievable. He added that this would reduce their dependence on Government support in the process.