Christmas funding boost for Mayo airport facility
Ireland West Airport Knock has been allocated direct exchequer supports of almost €1.9 million as part of a state aid package to support Irish Airports.
It brings to €6.5 million the facility has received this year in government funding.
This funding is being administered under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021, as well as the Covid-19 Supplementary Supports Scheme for Irish Airports recently approved by the European Commission.
Funding provided under the Regional Airports Programme contributes towards vital safety and security operations at the airports such as air traffic control, fire services and security, ensuring airports can continue to remain compliant with regulatory requirements in these areas.
Passenger numbers at Ireland West Airport in 2021 are expected to be 188,000 which will be a 77% decline on pre Covid passenger numbers, which reached a record high 807,000 in 2019. In 2020 142,000 passengers used the airport with commercial flight operations suspended for almost nine months across 2020 and 2021.
Welcoming the announcement, Arthur French, chairman, Ireland West Airport, said: "I wish to thank the Taoiseach, Ministers Ryan and in particular our local Minister Hildegarde Naughton, who works tirelessly in supporting this airport and region and also to our local TD’s, political representatives and the Western Chambers for their strong support for the airport and the regions it serves over the last 18 months in particular.
"Without this ongoing support and that of our local authority shareholders and airline partners, the airport would have been in a critically vulnerable position through the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Whilst the airport and indeed the entire aviation sector continues to be adversely impacted by Covid-19 we are confident that once the pandemic subsides, demand for international travel will rebound stronger than ever and we will return to passenger growth sooner than antipicated‘.
Mayo TD Alan Dillon said the funding will go a long way towards enabling our regional airports to remain financially sustainable as they move beyond this current crisis and into 2022.
“Government fully recognize the devastating impact that Covid has had on our regional airports. This almost €1.9m of funding announced today for Knock airport will help alleviate the financial damage caused by Covid to the maximum amounts allowable under the Supplementary Supports Scheme for Irish airports.
“This brings the funding to date during 2021 for Ireland West Airport Knock to €6.5 million."
Deputy Dara Calleary stated: “This is extremely good news for Knock in a good news week for the facility after the announcement on Monday that Ryanair are to launch a year-round service to Birmingham from March next year.
"I compliment Joe Gilmore and his team at Knock for getting through the past 18 months and preserving as many of the jobs as possible at the airport.
"I am delighted to play my part in assisting the airport to stabilise and grow in the aftermath of Covid restrictions and look forward to 2022 being a better year than the one about to end.
"Knock Airport is the jewel in crown not just of Mayo but the entire region – and like so many others I am delighted to see it back on a steady footing after a difficult period."