WATERFORD Airport’s future is under threat and requires urgent action, according to an airport employee who has outlined a number of concerns.
The stark remarks were made in the same week that Airport CEO Desmond O’Flynn announced that he was leaving his role.

Waterford Airport is now without a commercial carrier and a Chief Executive following the departure of CEO Desmond O'Flynn

Waterford Airport is now without a commercial carrier and a Chief Executive following the departure of CEO Desmond O'Flynn


In a statement, the Board of the Airport thanked Mr O’Flynn (who has held the position for the past four years) for his hard work and wished him well for the future.
“It remains the priority of the Board to secure the necessary funding to extend the runway in order to ensure that the airport can offer air connectivity to the UK and Europe for the South-East,” the statement said.
Waterford Airport has been without a commercial airline since VLM ceased its services in June 2016.
Shortly before Christmas, emergency government funding was approved for Waterford Airport as the future of the Killowen facility became increasingly uncertain.
In the summer of 2017, it was announced that Aer Southeast would operate flights from Waterford to London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham.
However, the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) forced Aer Southeast to stop selling tickets for flights because it did not have the required tour operator’s licence.
In December, responding to queries from Councillors, CEO of Waterford City & County Council Michael Walsh said discussions in relation to securing a new carrier are still ongoing and expressed his hope that there would be an announcement in the New Year.
However, no announcement has yet been made.

For more on this story see this week’s print edition of The Munster Express