Fine Gael’s Pat Dunphy emphasised that Waterford Airport has the support of both the people and the elected representatives of Kilkenny, saying: “I think it will be fantastic for the South East and I have to compliment the work you’ve put in over the years”.
These comments were made at the November meeting of Piltown Municipal District Council to Airport Manager, Aidan Power, who gave the councillors an overview of recent developments, from the airport’s difficult start to the year, to the emergence of a new, US-based investor who purposed an investment deal worth €30 million. This deal was passed in Waterford Council chambers last month and is set to go before the shareholders at AGM at the end of the month.
After enquiring as to the dates Airport shares were sold, Labour Cllr. Tomás Breathnach, held up his hands to declare a personal interest. This was met with some laughter. It was explained at the special sitting of Waterford Council last month that there are up to 11,000, investors in the airport, most having contributed small sums which would not be repaid as part of this new deal.
Speaking at the council meeting held in the Rhu Glen Hotel, Aidian Power said: “There is a lot of support and in fairness to yourselves you were very supportive as well. There was a lot of representations made to the department and to the ministers along the way, trying to get the point across that this was a regional ask and brought the regional dimension to it”.
“I remember speaking to Knock Airport many years ago and they told me the length of time it took them to actually move from one particular part of a project to another, and the timeline was quite surprising to me. So I think that’s just been borne out. It takes a long time. One wouldn’t expect it to take 20 years but if we get there in the end it will have been worth it.”
The Waterford Airport Manager went to outline the advantages this development would bring to airport users in the South East.
“I suppose it will give the opportunity for people to access price points that we wouldn’t have been able to offer. We were restricted to turboprop aircraft and they always came at a premium so while we had the upside of convenience it came with the downside of the cost. The whole idea of this is to level the playing field, you get the upside of convenience and the upside of cost being the new norm,” he said.
“We’re all Ryanair-ised what we’re trying to get prices for and all that. So it’s brining it into that space. People prefer to fly by jets, they prefer the price point of flying by jets and the timelines associated with quicker flight times and all that. It brings a lot to the table that up to now we weren’t in the position to do.
“Years ago we [Waterford Airport] said we served the South East, but the road structure wasn’t the best so I’m not sure we were able to deliver on that. Now that’s a lot different, you’ve got good access into Wexford, good access into Kilkenny, Carlow, that brings all the timelines and all the positives into it.”
He finished by acknowledging the newfound sense of regional support the Airport now enjoyed.
“In fairness to Kilkenny, Wexford and Tipperary, Carlow as well they have all been in the mix and trying to push it, and get it over the line. Through no fault of anybody, I’ve been involved for a long time, that wasn’t always the case, but it is very reassuring that everybody is pushing in the same direction which makes a huge difference,” he added.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme
