James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need a two-pronged approach to address the situation facing our airports. We need to get clarity on international travel on and off the island, and we need to put a stimulus package in place to sustain the aviation industry over time. We need to recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic will be with us for the long term and we need to plan accordingly. Too many livelihoods are at stake.

A recent article in The Irish Timeshighlighted how the aviation sector got us out of the last recession due to its major economic contribution to society, through airports such as the one in Cork which we are here to discuss today, and the aircraft leasing business. If we do not act now, we will not survive this recession. The passenger numbers in Cork fell by over 95% during the lockdown compared with the same period in the previous year. Air traffic is not expected to recover until 2024. It is urgent for the Government to act now to ensure a proper recovery plan is put in place for the aviation sector.

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