Airport business plan sought within 21 days

DECLINING passenger numbers at Shannon Airport have prompted Clare county councillors to ask management at the facility to devise and present a comprehensive, viable business plan to them within three weeks.
A cross-party group of councillors from the Shannon Electoral Area proposed that the council “in view of the continuing decline of services at Shannon Airport and considering the strategic importance of the airport, demand a comprehensive statement within 21 days… from the chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority on the formulation of a strategy and viable business plan, which will see Shannon Airport restored to a vibrant international airport serving and meeting the needs not alone of the region but of the communities of the West of Ireland?”
The motion went on to state that in the “absence of a satisfactory response from the Shannon Airport Authority, the statutory authority with responsibility for the airport, that the county manager call a representative meeting of his colleagues, leaders of industry, business and development agencies in the region to determine a process for the formulation of a strategy and viable business plan for the airport”.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy, one of the councillors behind the motion, said, “It is a very difficult thing to put a notice of motion down to require a different authority to provide a business plan.
“To say the airport is in decline is an understatement,” she said, adding, “we have seen that every bit of activity that is profit making has been taken from Shannon and continues in Dublin.”
Things have got so bad, she claimed, “We are in a situation now where our young people are emigrating and they can’t even emigrate from Shannon.”
Councillor McCarthy highlighted the lack of connectivity between Shannon and mainland Europe and called on all local authorities in the West of Ireland to take ownership of airport’s future.
Fellow Shannon area councillor and former mayor, Tony Mulcahy said, “Shannon Airport must get away from the cold, dead hand of the Dublin Airport Authority.
“As long as that hand is sitting on the shoulder of Shannon Airport then we will never go forward,” he continued.
Councillors Pat McMahon, John Crowe and Gerry Flynn were all equally critical of the situation with the airport.
“The DAA has only one thing in mind, to cause as many problems as possible for Shannon Airport in the hope it will self-destruct,” claimed Councillor PJ Ryan, adding “they now want to direct all traffic to Dublin to support a white elephant – terminal two.”
Ennis councillor Johnny Flynn highlighted the length of the runway at Shannon Airport as one of its significant assets, given the increasing size of aircraft. “There is no other airport in the county where a super airplane can land,” he said.
County manager Tom Coughlan stated he “very sincerely hopes this motion will motivate a response from the director of the Shannon Airport Authority within the time”.
The motion received widespread support from the councillors and was passed.