Western business community unite to fight for Ireland West Airport

THE business community of Galway, Mayo and Sligo has united for the first time to call with one voice for the government to respond to the challenges facing Ireland West Airport.

They are urgently seeking a meeting with Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Climate Action and Transport, and Eamon Ryan, Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, to discuss the matter.

The campaign is being led by the regional Chambers of Commerce.

Kenny Deery, CEO of Galway Chamber, commented: “Our regional airports are of critical importance to the west of Ireland in providing essential connectivity to global markets for regional businesses, in providing a gateway for much needed tourists and in attracting foreign direct investment into the region. That is why we, as a business community, are coming together to ensure the sustainability of Ireland West Airport.”

Ireland West Airport had 807,000 passengers use the airport last year, and as of now, will be incurring a significant loss this year. The business community of the west are seeking government intervention to bridge those losses.

The reason for the losses does not lie solely as a direct result of Covid-19. Ireland’s travel restrictions are some of the most restrictive in Europe and the longer these restrictions are in place the greater the risk they pose to the west region’s competitiveness and future economic recovery.

While the business community of the west appreciate that public health advice must take priority, they cannot ignore the fact that government-imposed travel restrictions are creating significant implications for our regional airports.