Galway Airport - mega merge

Not entirely sure if the P&R will work or is even needed. But it's worth a try. In terms of it's actual use as an airport. Well there is no forseeable possibility of scheduled services at the moment. But while it's hardly Heathrow there is traffic in and out regularly including the Air Corps and Coastguard. Plus a certain amount of business jets and other users. That all generates income and alone can justify the continued use of the airport.

There is a future for the airport as an asset to the city. Just not in the way it used to be run. As I understand it things have changed quite a lot in terms of the expectations of the owners and they've gone out of their way to attract business. The airport can pay for itself. But they have debts which need to be dealt with.

In America towns the same size will nearly always have one or more small airports and they are usually part funded by the local authorities because they know it makes their town more accessible. The same thing can work for Galway. I think Galway airport will survive and thrive into the future and maybe one day there might be even be a return of some form of scheduled services.

It's also worth nothing that the current management are not being paid.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yeah, but do they usually have airports 1.25 hours drive away in two directions, and 2.5 hours drive to the capital city?

I'm not sure that the way they do things in Amerikay is actually a good comparison with Ireland.

Certainly not a good example to follow.

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Eh??? Nobody will EVER build a gated community with a bizjet in every backyard backing onto some drab field in carnmore. Get real!!!!

Carnmore is gone, too small an airport in the wrong place. It's Shannon or Knock for us at best from now on. If they both fail it's Dublin.

I've actually seen the worlds biggest airplane myself in Shannon, I'll bet on that one somehow as against an anorexic airstrip less than 50 miles to the north.

You're still thinking big airport rather than local airport. It is possible for Carnmore to sustain itself with little or no subsidy and still be an asset to the area. The mistake the previous management made was to try and compete with bigger airports and provide scheduled and charter traffic. It could never succeed in the long run without a longer runway. Again I refer to the American and Canadian model, not the airpark thing. That's just a bit of fun. But it's very common for towns smaller than Galway to have small local airports run on a shoestring. It works for them why not here in Ireland?

Iwannahurl wrote: »

The main, and serious, point is that a small island like Ireland needs to develop and integrate its land use, transportation and infrastructural policies even more carefully.

There may be a good business case for an airport to service Galway City and environs, but how well does it tie in with the business case for motorways, rail links, port development and other airports in the region?

Again you're thinking big airport rather than local. Already the flying club is there. Why not a flying school or one of many other small aviation companies. All over Europe and the world there are small airports which host lots of small businesses. Weston airport ran into problem with the locals when they tried to encourage business jets. No such problems in Galway is there? That business is very lucrative. You don't need very many flights for it to pay for itself.

I've no insight into the plans they might try. But if they have any sense that's the road they'll go down.

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Fair enough.

However, should Government be involved in the support of commercial ventures such as flight schools and the accommodation of business jets?

Central government no. Local government maybe. Remember we're talking about job creation and bringing money to an area. Even in America, local authorities help out with certain ventures because of the benefits and money it brings. Not just in aviation. It's the same here. It may not be a subsidy, maybe a reduction in rates or tax during the start up phase. Goes for any business.

If there were one or two businesses paying rent and a regular flow of visitors. Sports teams have flown in an out on charters. They buy fuel and pay landing fees etc. It's worth a try. Better than closing it all together. That would be a pity.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

boboldpilot, I'm kinda thinking that you don't realise just how small Ireland really is, and what the environmental impact of air travel is.

We have two airports approx 1 hour 15 mins drive away.

Also, I work for one of those multinationals. No sign of a corporate jet there, staff who travel do so usually from Dublin.

As the previous poster indicated they do visit regularly and they are a lucrative revenue stream for airports.

As for your company. I think you'll find they probably do use corporate jets just not into Galway. Most multinationals either own them, as in they have a full flight department, or they rent them when needed. You just may not be aware of this. Google it, you might be surprised. Many high level executives have neither the time or inclination to go through the hassle of airline travel.

As for how small Ireland is, well I do actually. There's a clue in my user name??

As for environment impact of air travel, let's not go there.

Again, you're missing the point. Sure it was a money pit, was. Really the former management had illusions of grandeur. Ran it like it was a big airport which it wasn't and tended to turn up their nose at anything else. Then Aer Arann flew away and it was left exposed.

Now if the owners want to keep it and make some money from it. They need to attract customers not neccessarily the general public, without much if any public subsidy.

It's like saying that Galway port should be shut down because the Queen Mary can't fit in the docks. It's for smaller ships and they generate income too. Plus all the private boats etc.

In the long run having a small airport in Galway is better than having no airport at all. Particulary if it pays for itself and brings people to Galway.

In fact it did bring people to Galway but once again you have massively missed the point. The point I'm trying make it that it can pay for itself by, wait for it, bringing people to Galway. Not in airliners anymore, but in other ways. It can encourage job creation by getting companies to move in and use the airport.

I personally think it could survive without subsidy in due course. Who knows maybe a few years down the road a passenger service could come back. It certainly won't happen if it's left to rot with weeds growing up through the runway. People seem very keen to get rid of what is a potential gold mine.

There is a very common misconception among people that airports are always about airlines. In fact most of the world's air traffic is what's called General Aviation. That is everything else. From tiny microlights all the way up to private 747s and everything in between. Most of the world's smaller airports like Galway cater exclusively to general aviation. That includes flight training, air taxi, surveying, joy rides, scenic flying, parachuting, private flying and all the rest. If Galway wants to survive it needs to tap into that market. It's practically invisible to the average person in this country but it's there alright and in my opinion there's an opportunity to be had.

I think they will from what I hear.

Dan_Solo wrote: »

So in other words you are saying to use the airport exactly as it is being used now. Is there currently a ban on companies using the airport that needs to be lifted? No, they have decided they don't want to use it.
I really don't see what your business plan here is besides "chuck money at it and sure it might drum up some business eventually". Where is this untapped demand for flight schools, charity parachute drops or whatever that do not have access to the airport right now if they want it?

It's not my business plan. I don't know what their business plan is. I'm merely suggesting a potential business plan. Somehow or other I don't think I'm a genius for suggesting the same business plan that keeps many small airports in profit all over the world.

All I know is that from my experience, there is an untapped demand for charity parachute drops and flight schools and all the rest in similar cities all over the place. Is Galway weirdly different than other similar size towns in other countries?

I doubt it.

Maybe the only difference is the old Irish/Galway mentality of knocking everything and being negative about anything close to a money making idea.

Look at Ryanair, it's money making machine. But everyone in Ireland hates them. If they were French or British no one would think twice?

Sure close the place. Turn it into a sheep farm. Shure begorrah isn't that the Galway way of things, eff everything up. Look at what happened to the Ocean race event.

What kind of town allows that to happen?

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Oh dear, play the emotional card why don't you.
I am in Galway and I did use the airport for flights to Dublin/London/Leeds when they were available. That is the "support" I gave them, I paid for flight tickets. Now it seems I supposed to pay in taxes for absolutely zero return for other private individuals to use it.
Look at it this way, Cava was an excellent restaurant that I loved and now it is closed. Would you like to fork out a subsidy for them so I can continue eating there, at a reduced price, even though you never liked the place at all?
Exactly the same thing.

You are still thinking big airport. Look get it into your head! An airport can make money without airline flights or subsidy.

How often does it have to be said to you?