Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Summer Plans for Dublin and Cork Airports: DAA

1:10 pm

Mr. Kenny Jacobs:

I will add to that. We are taking a total Ireland view. We run two airports. I used to fly from Shannon a lot. It is a very good campus. I see things such as maintenance, repair and overhaul, MRO, and chartered flights there. When Mr. McLean had the challenge of the Europa League final, and there were lots of late charter flights with Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen fans who wanted to come in, we said they should go to Cork and Shannon, or look at those other airports, if they could not get into Dublin. For Shannon charters, I would talk to transatlantic carriers that are looking to start operating into Ireland and say they might get slots this winter or summer at Dublin but not keep them, and they should definitely talk to Shannon. It has pre-clearance, which is a great advantage for any airport. Airports such as Manchester look at that and say, "Wow." Dublin and Shannon Airports both have pre-clearance. That is a very good differentiator.

We will take a total Ireland view. We will definitely incentivise airlines to go to Cork. As Mr. MacCarthy said, Cork Airport is big and busy in the summer but we want to make it busier in the winter and have European connectivity that is good all year round. Shannon has some unique opportunities as well. Ultimately, this is about all airports moving forward, which we support.

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