Efforts to maintain airport continue

Galway Airport’s Chairperson has stressed that it is continuing to maintain air access to Galway, following Aer Arann’s decision to suspend its services there late last year.

 In the wake of reports that a bid to secure a new airline to service the facility may lead to its closure later this summer, Michael Coyle said this week that “the efforts of the board of management and staff of the airport since the cessation of scheduled flights services last November have been to maintain air access to Galway and those efforts continue”.

“It’s been very difficult but the board and management and staff have been successful in maintaining air access to Galway and on a daily and weekly basis, the airport services private aircraft, small charter aircraft, emergency services, the Air Corps, the Galway Flying Club and other aircraft by arrangement. The facility is still open,” he said, highlighting the recent use of the airport by the CEO of a multinational on the day the company announced the creation of new jobs in Galway.

Six staff currently remain at the airport and Mr Coyle said that “every avenue and every opportunity and every option” in relation to the use of the facility is being explored, adding that the suitability of the site as a park and ride facility has previously been highlighted.

“We are working on a longer term plan and we are talking to many entities,” he said, adding that the board has not had any direct discussions with the IDA or Enterprise Ireland about alternative uses for the site.  

Independent TD Noel Grealish has suggested that options to use “the fine facility” at Carnmore for other industry or activities and to create employment be looked at, should any attempt to secure another airline to service the facility fail. Deputy Grealish sought to clarify that, despite reports to the contrary, he is not a member of the airport board.

President of Galway Chamber Declan Dooley also said yesterday that maintaining direct air access to and from Galway continues to be a key objective of Galway Chamber. “And we fully support the ongoing efforts by the Board of Galway Airport to find a viable solution,” he said.