Government urged to expand airport facilities

The volume of air freight between Ireland and abroad has grown by 70 per cent in a five-year period, a new study has shown. The study recommends the Government ensures that adequate infrastructure is in place to cope with the growing volume. The study, undertaken for the Institute of International Trade in Ireland, predicts that the growth will continue and the volume of cargo carried by express operators is set to account for 40 per cent of total traffic.

Mr Colum MacDonnell, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, said last night that more infrastructure in terms of roads and airport facilities would be needed.

The study found the growth in air freight carried by express carriers that offer a door-to-door service is also accompanied by high customer expectations. It notes that in the US express operators currently account for some 60 per cent of the domestic market and the US experience is an important indicator of future trends in Europe.

At present, the survey said, air trucking - sending goods to other airports by land to be flown on to other destinations - accounts for about 21 per cent of all cargo exported.

The survey says there are several reasons why Ireland has significant volumes of air freight trucked by road.

The study says air freight and air express service operators will need expanded facilities at Irish airports, particularly at Dublin airport in the next five years. "There is an urgent need now to address the infrastructural needs of the air cargo sector in the next five years," the study warns.

The study which was carried out by Dr Aisling Reynolds-Feighan and Mr Joe Durkan, lecturers at University College, Dublin, says the Government should put pressure on the EU to implement certain directives as soon as possible. One directive, known as the ground handling directive, is adding costs on Irish shippers and carriers. It also recommends that some agreement be reached with the UK authorities because Irish carriers are incurring extra costs, because of delays due to stringent security measures being implement by the British authorities on cargo which is sent to Britain for forwarding on to other destinations worldwide.

The study was presented to Public Enterprise Minister, Ms Mary O'Rourke, who welcomed its findings. She pointed out that an extra £5 million had been granted this year for investment in upgrading Irish airports. It is understood that £3 million of this will be used for Galway airport.