Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 16 November 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Update on Issues in Aviation Sector: Engagement with Mr. Willie Walsh

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Walsh is very welcome. I have listened to most of the meeting. I have a deep interest in Shannon Airport and the Shannon area. I note his comments in respect of the airport and the hope is to progress. He is aware of the chaos we all witnessed at Dublin Airport and other airports across Europe, particularly where there was a dominant airport. That chaos stemmed from a lack of staff, with people queuing, significant frustration and cancelled flights. The mask slipped in respect of aviation policy in this country. Ordinary people were saying we need to sweat the assets we have, whether that is Cork Airport or Shannon Airport. Obviously, I will be making a case for Shannon Airport. It has capacity for 4.5 million passengers.

One of the major asks of the Shannon Group is for the airport to have a connection to a major European hub. It is not that Shannon Airport would become a hub. Mr. Walsh has stated that there are pitfalls in that regard. Shannon Group has identified Schipol, Frankfurt and Paris airports. Mr. Walsh mentioned Istanbul. That opportunity was highlighted in work carried out by Copenhagen Economics on behalf of Limerick Chamber of Commerce. It identified the opportunities relating to Istanbul.

What can the Oireachtas, Deputies, Ministers and the Government do to convince airlines? Mr. Walsh is saying the airports are a different kettle of fish from the airlines. I will be part of the delegation that will visit the Netherlands tomorrow. We will be meeting people involved in aviation there in the airport. What should we, as stakeholders, be doing to engage with the likes of IATA to ensure we get that vital hub connectivity for Shannon Airport? Post Brexit, we do not have that connectivity and that is a major failing for Shannon Airport. It makes the airport less attractive even though we have 40% of US foreign direct investment, FDI, located within the Shannon catchment area. Mr. Walsh is saying to make it attractive on a point-to-point basis. We have all that stuff there. We have a massive tourism opportunity, with the great scenery all along the west coast. We have something to sell. We have the Wild Atlantic Way, for example. It is about working together. Dublin Airport cannot be allowed to suck in 90% of the traffic while everyone else fights for the crumbs. There must be a better way to do it. That is the point I am making.

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