Knock prepares for loss of revenue

There will be no loss of permanent jobs at Knock International Airport, Co Mayo, following the abolition of duty-free sales, the airport board's chairman, Mr Cathal Duffy, has said.

However, the board is taking the loss of revenue very seriously, given its dependence on duty-free to make the airport pay.

The income from duty-free sales had allowed passengers "to enjoy the benefit of low fares", Mr Duffy said yesterday. He said while some 89 permanent staff will continue to be employed, temporary summer staff employed to assist in duty-free sales will no longer be taken on. The retail facility at the airport will be refitted as a gift shop.

The Knock Airport board has requested to be brought within the remit of the Government's proposed airport regulator.

"We intend to have discussions with the airlines after the regulator's report is submitted to the Government to establish what changes in policy will be needed," Mr Duffy said.

Over the past week, Mr Duffy has visited the three State airports as well as the Kerry airport at Farranfore, and held discussions with personnel on the impact of duty-free abolition and measures taken in an attempt to offset the loss in annual revenue.

Earlier this year, the Mayo county manager, Mr Des Mahon, said that Knock International Airport should be upgraded and designated as a national, rather than regional, airport with scheduled flights and an industrial base which could generate more jobs.

Knock airport's tax-free designation has not attracted the sort of investment hoped for, as it does not include freight-forwarding operations.