Airport seeks £6m to avoid closure

Waterford Regional Airport faces closure within 18 months unless the Government supports a major investment programme, its chairman warned yesterday.

Dr Cormac McNamara said the airport could increase passenger numbers tenfold over the next six years, but only if a £6 million runway extension gets the go-ahead.

In an apparent attempt to force the Government's hand on the issue, the airport yesterday announced plans for the runway investment, which would open the facility to modern jet traffic.

However, the project cannot go ahead unless the Government agrees to provide most of the £6 million required, along with annual marketing support of up to £500,000 for the next five years. The airport claims it would be "profitable and self-sufficient" by then.

Dr McNamara said detailed discussions had yet to take place with the Government on the issue. But he said the choice was between the airport "limping along" as it was at present, or "going the distance with a jet runway". Without the required investment, the airport would have no alternative but to close within 18 months, he added.

The airport's runway currently accommodates only turbo-prop aircraft, which are more expensive than jets on a cost-per-passenger basis. Only 16,000 passengers a year use the airport, which has one daily service to London.

Dr McNamara said this figure would increase to 160,000 by 2005 if jet aircraft could be accommodated. The airport says it has already received a commitment in principle from one major international carrier to operate a Waterford-UK jet service once the runway extension has been opened.

It also argues that the lack of adequate scheduled services from Waterford is the biggest barrier to investment in the south-east region. The airport's manager, Mr Peter Tawse, said there could not be a better time to give the facility the investment it needs. "The underlying market conditions are right and you never know when this opportunity will come again."

Investment in the airport was also identified recently by IBEC as a priority requirement in a document outlining the infrastructural needs of the region.

Dr McNamara rejected claims by some critics that the airport, which is south of Waterford, is in the wrong location and should be replaced by a more accessible facility elsewhere in the region.

The Department of Public Enterprise said it had received the airport's submission yesterday and it would be considered in due course.