A former Chair of Shannon Group believes Shannon Airport could still thrive, even if a second airport is opened in Dublin.
Pádraig Ó Céidigh, who stepped down from the role earlier this year after only six months, has once again suggested the Balldonnell military airport on the Southside of Dublin be shared with commercial airlines.
A Clare member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee has said now is not the right time for that however, as Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill reports:
Pádraig Ó Céidigh was confirmed as the new Chair of the Shannon Group Board last September, but only six months later stepped down from the role, saying it would be more than a full-time job to get the airport to reach it’s full potential.
He’s now told Clare FM that he made the Department of Transport aware of challenges during his time there and for legal reasons would prefer not to discuss the matter further publicly.
The Founder of Aer Arann insists however that he supports Shannon Airport and believes it’s fundamental for the region that the Midwest facility does achieve its full potential.
The former Senator first raised the idea of a second airport for Dublin in the Seanad a number of years ago and discussed the matter with the then Transport Minister Shane Ross, as well as the Irish Aviation Authority.
But in the wake of recent capacity issues at Dublin Airport, Mr Ó Céidigh has reiterated his belief that Baldonnell Airport should be utilised by commercial airlines.
He’s dismissed any suggestion that this would sound the death knell for Shannon, but acknowledges that the airport will need support from Government, as well as other initiatives.
Listen back to the full interview here:
Meanwhile, a Clare member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee says now is not the right time for a second airport in Dublin however.
Senator Timmy Dooley admits demand for air access to Ireland is growing and that the capital’s airport has all the plusses, including multiplicity of flights, critical mass of people and train, bus and road connectivity to all corners of the country.
But the Mountshannon-based Fianna Fáil Senator believes there’s room for growth at Shannon, Cork and Knock, without taking a large chunk of Dublin’s passenger numbers.
Senator Dooley thinks new aviation policy should focus on bringing all airports under one banner so that they’re not competing with each other, though he warns lessons have to be learned from the past.
Listen back to the full interview here:
