Galway Airport to close - All flights to cease.

Lapin

From the Galway Advertiser:

'Flights to cease from
Galway Airport next week after City and County Councils buy site and hand back licence.

All staff at Galway Airport to be laid off this Friday. Negotiations with Flying Club to take place over continuation of lease.

The €1.1 million paid by the Councils for the airport will in the main go to the creditors. Chamber are hailing this as a 'great day for Galway.'

GCU Flexible Demeanour

Linky here:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1105/484710-galway-airport-purchase/

Lapin wrote: »

The €1.1 million paid by the Councils for the airport will in the main go to the creditors.

I notice the main creditors are

<...>two banks and the Department of Transport

Given that the taxpayer is funding most Irish banks, this "purchase" would seem to amount to the taxpayer paying for a debt that the self-same taxpayer is owed, albeit indirectly.

Presumably means that

Galway Chamber of Commerce, the majority shareholder in the airport

won't have to find this €1.1 million themselves.

So no wonder that

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/galway-airport-site-to-be-bought-by-councils-612213.html

Galway's Chamber of Commerce meanwhile has welcomed the decision

It might be timely to recall a story from last year:

http://galwayindependent.com/20120202/news/boi-seize-funds-from-galway-airport-S2616.html

Oscar Bravo

I see the photo rte have there is A319,G-EUOE,the one that returned to Heathrow after fan cowl doors detached from both engines shortly after take off.

coylemj

Slightly OT but apparently the local councillors knew nothing about it, might be worth remind the candidates when they come knocking looking for votes next year. Why do they attend meetings and claim truckloads of expenses when clearly they have absolutely no powers if the officials can go out and spend over €1m with no reference to them?

Galway City Councillor Ollie Crowe said he was disappointed council members weren’t briefed about the purchase last night.

“We as elected members received no information. We should have been briefed.”


http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/transport-and-tourism/local-authorities-to-buy-galway-airport-1.1584387

mackjark

coylemj wrote: »

Galway City Councillor Ollie Crowe said he was disappointed council members weren’t briefed about the purchase last night.

“We as elected members received no information. We should have been briefed.”


http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/transport-and-tourism/local-authorities-to-buy-galway-airport-1.1584387

That's because they wouldn't be able to keep their mouths shut about the reasons for the sale to the councils. As I said over on Galway city thread on this subject there is clearly an agenda here to sell our lease the airport to an interested party. Otherwise why would there be such an positive spin on the sale and closure of the airport from both councils and Chamber.

The next few weeks and months will be interesting.

GCU Flexible Demeanour

mackjark wrote: »

That's because they wouldn't be able to keep their mouths shut about the reasons for the sale to the councils.

If it was a public meeting of the Council, they wouldn't need to keep their mouths shut.

The doings of public authorities are a matter of public interest. Because this is public money they are chucking around. If the Council wanted a development site, I'd expect they'd find plenty of folk willing to offer them one.

mackjark

If the Council wanted a development site, I'd expect they'd find plenty of folk willing to offer them one.

Exactly and not only that there's plenty of empty spaces around Galway, half finished and finished buildings, empty office space. Nearby, ironically the site of old Oranmore RAF airfield has been laid out, landscaped for a possible Pharma complex. Nice place for walking the dog but eerily empty and unused. In Mervue there's the Crown Plaza, looking like a bomb site. In Knocknacarra there's a big hole beside Dunnes and acres of empty overgrown development land.

There is absolutely no requirement for yet another empty business park. The best use for the airport is oddly enough as an airport and there are people interested in using for just that.

Hopefully that will be the case.

David086

So what are they going to do with the site now that's it's been sold?

FWVT

The Mayor of Galway, Padraig Conneely.....

Is he anything to do with Conneely Group, the new owner of Weston, just 1.5 hours down the M6/M4? Or am I looking too much into it?

Stinicker

David086 wrote: »

So what are they going to do with the site now that's it's been sold?

Any interest in Drag Racing

KevR

GCU Flexible Demeanour wrote: »

If it was a public meeting of the Council, they wouldn't need to keep their mouths shut.

The doings of public authorities are a matter of public interest. Because this is public money they are chucking around. If the Council wanted a development site, I'd expect they'd find plenty of folk willing to offer them one.

Whatever about there being plenty of empty office/retail/factory units in Galway, house prices are on the rise again in Galway City. There is practically nothing new being built in the city at the moment so supply isn't increasing to meet demand...

Possibly very shrewd by both councils. There is potential for a big return from this investment. Only time will tell.

GCU Flexible Demeanour

KevR wrote: »

Possibly very shrewd by both councils.

Ah, hang on. It would only be "shrewd" if whatever reasoning the councils are employing was found to pan out over time. If the land turned out to be valuable for some other reason - like, if they found the site had a rich deposit of uranium ore, or something - then the proper phrasing would be "blinld luck".

From what I've seen, the councils are not saying that they are making this acquisition to create a land bank for future housing needs. If that was their motivation, their would be no need for them to be all cloak and dagger about it.

FWVT

Only in Ireland could the country's 4th city, a huge tourist attraction and gateway to Connemara, be without an airport. I know Shannon and Knock are a little over an hour away in both directions but historically Galway should have developed to be the main airport serving the city.

Dublinflyer

I think Galway airport suffered as the roads are so improved around the country. It's only just over a two hour drive from Dublin to Galway City Center these days and in a weird twist that's actually quicker that flying. By the time you do security and all the waiting around that air travel involves these days and then get into galway city from the airport it can be well over 2 hours. It's a very sad situation but they have been hanging on for a while now and commercial reality has taken it's toll.

FWVT

Dublinflyer wrote: »

I think Galway airport suffered as the roads are so improved around the country. It's only just over a two hour drive from Dublin to Galway City Center these days and in a weird twist that's actually quicker that flying. By the time you do security and all the waiting around that air travel involves these days and then get into galway city from the airport it can be well over 2 hours. It's a very sad situation but they have been hanging on for a while now and commercial reality has taken it's toll.

I'm talking about direct traffic from the UK and near continent. I agree the Dublin-Galway route is a non-runner but there is no reason why there could not be short-haul routes feeding into the city. Just look at Knock. Why couldn't Galway have done that? Aer Arann could have based a lot of business there.

Storm 10

FWVT wrote: »

I'm talking about direct traffic from the UK and near continent. I agree the Dublin-Galway route is a non-runner but there is no reason why there could not be short-haul routes feeding into the city. Just look at Knock. Why couldn't Galway have done that? Aer Arann could have based a lot of business there.

Remember its the pull out of Aer Arann because they could not get a subsidy from the Government that was the cause of this closeure, they should be ashamed of themselves having started in Galway and growing from there, they could have kept some flights operating from there .

markpb

Storm 10 wrote: »

Remember its the pull out of Aer Arann because they could not get a subsidy from the Government that was the cause of this closeure, they should be ashamed of themselves having started in Galway and growing from there, they could have kept some flights operating from there .

They're a business, not a charity.

newcavanman

The sorry history of Galway Airport is a damning indictment of the way things are done in this country . The simple fact is that it was never really fit for purpose . The runway was too short for , what are the standard european jets, 737s and A320s. Without being capable of accomodating these class of jets, then galways future was always going to be in doubt . When you look at what Knock, which is miles from any decent sized city has done, then it shows what is possible

mackjark

A lot of this was discussed over on the Galway forum. There is a long history of getting it wrong when it comes to Galway's airfields. The RAF built an airfield at Oranmore in 1918 and that was later used by Aer Arann's Islanders and others. But it was muddy and unusable in Winter and a German businessman built his own runway at Carnmore. Aer Arann fell out with the owners of Oranmore and moved to Carnmore.

Carnmore was later bought out and a new longer runway was built. But Aer Arann Islands fell out with the Carnmore management and built their own field out in Connemara.

Later the larger Aer Arann began using Galway and when a chance came to build a longer runway and a bigger airport at the original Oranmore. This was rejected by vested interests in order to protect Aer Arann, ironic considering later events.

Meanwhile the management at Carnmore got themselves a very bad name with their arrogant attitude during the boom years. But once the downturn came Aer Arann moved out as did the helicopter operator. The rest is well known.

There was an opportunity to build a proper jet runway in Oranmore. If that had happened it would be Knock now that was in trouble. But they blew it.

The best option for Galway right now is to turn it into a decent GA airport. You have to wonder if anyone in the councils have the wisdom to see that. I'm quite sure someone will be approaching them at some point in the near future with a proposal like that. It will be interesting to see their reaction.

FWVT

Well, that's it.

EINN-A1615/13
A) EICM GALWAY CARNMORE
2013 NOV 08 17:00 C) PERM
E) AERODROME IS CLOSED EXCEPT FOR BASED CLUB AIRCRAFT

EINN-B0315/13
A) EICM GALWAY CARNMORE
2013 NOV 08 17:09 C) PERM
E) GALWAY NDB CRN FREQ 321 KHZ OUT OF SERVICE

EINN-B0316/13
A) EICM GALWAY CARNMORE
2013 NOV 08 17:11 C) PERM
E) ILS GP RWY 26 OUT OF SERVICE

EINN-B0317/13
A) EICM GALWAY CARNMORE
2013 NOV 08 17:12 C) PERM
E) CARNMORE DME CRN CH37X FREQ 110.0MHZ OUT OF SERVICE

EINN-B0319/13
A) EICM GALWAY CARNMORE
2013 NOV 08 17:22 C) PERM
E) ILS LOCALIZER RWY 26 OUT OF SERVICE

Galway airport was always going to close, it is declared government policy to keep shannon going at the expense of other competing airports no matter how badly shannon does.

Galway airport is too close to shannon!!!

Knock is thriving not with the traffic to the south of the airport but with that to the west east and north. It has no competition from those regions. Thats why Knock works even when not close to a city, it is drawing custom from a massive rural region.

Take the western seaboard Cork city - Letterkenny, Cork Kerry and Shannon airports are all in the first quarter, Knock has the rest.

urajoke

FWVT wrote: »

I'm talking about direct traffic from the UK and near continent. I agree the Dublin-Galway route is a non-runner but there is no reason why there could not be short-haul routes feeding into the city. Just look at Knock. Why couldn't Galway have done that? Aer Arann could have based a lot of business there.

Plenty of other cities around the world manage to have an airport and good road system I don't see why Galway couldn't , they just needed to hang in a bit longer and the tourist would fly back . The recession hit them big time and Aer Arann etc pulled the plug before they bit the dirt and they were very lucky to tie up Aer Lingus or they would have gone.

lotusm

There will never be a commercial flights from Galway city. M17/M18 will be developed in a few years. Dublin Shannon knock are within relative commuting distances. Gal way airport RIP.. people from Gal way need to get over this... Waterford and Kerry are next for the chop :-)

Stinicker

lotusm wrote: »

There will never be a commercial flights from Galway city. M17/M18 will be developed in a few years. Dublin Shannon knock are within relative commuting distances. Gal way airport RIP.. people from Gal way need to get over this... Waterford and Kerry are next for the chop :-)

Kerry is safe out whatever about Waterford Airport, Kerry Airport will be safe until such time as Adare in Limerick is Bypassed and the Ballyvourney-Lissarda Macroom Bypass project is finished and we become accessible. Kerry is the most disadvantaged county in Ireland in terms of infrastructure and is cut off from everything with goat track bohereen roads serving as the main artery into the county (N22 Cork) and until Abbeyfeale, Newcastlewest and Adare are by passed by Motorway or 2x2 roads then there will be no alternative, Shannon is too difficult to get to from Tralee with traffic and Cork too difficult from Killarney with bad roads so right in the middle we have Farranfore serving Kerry the Tourism jewel of Ireland and Kerry Airport gets alot of inward tourism moreso than outwards local traffic.

relaxed

mackjark wrote: »

A lot of this was discussed over on the Galway forum. There is a long history of getting it wrong when it comes to Galway's airfields. The RAF built an airfield at Oranmore in 1918 and that was later used by Aer Arann's Islanders and others. But it was muddy and unusable in Winter and a German businessman built his own runway at Carnmore. Aer Arann fell out with the owners of Oranmore and moved to Carnmore.

Carnmore was later bought out and a new longer runway was built. But Aer Arann Islands fell out with the Carnmore management and built their own field out in Connemara.

Later the larger Aer Arann began using Galway and when a chance came to build a longer runway and a bigger airport at the original Oranmore. This was rejected by vested interests in order to protect Aer Arann, ironic considering later events.

Meanwhile the management at Carnmore got themselves a very bad name with their arrogant attitude during the boom years. But once the downturn came Aer Arann moved out as did the helicopter operator. The rest is well known.

There was an opportunity to build a proper jet runway in Oranmore. If that had happened it would be Knock now that was in trouble. But they blew it.

The best option for Galway right now is to turn it into a decent GA airport. You have to wonder if anyone in the councils have the wisdom to see that. I'm quite sure someone will be approaching them at some point in the near future with a proposal like that. It will be interesting to see their reaction.

I don't think there was ever an opportunity for this. It would have been crazy to build another airport so close to Shannon, when the motorway is complete Oranmore will be less than 45 minutes from a runway in Shannon.

Stinicker

Stinicker wrote: »

Kerry is safe out whatever about Waterford Airport, Kerry Airport will be safe until such time as Adare in Limerick is Bypassed and the Ballyvourney-Lissarda Macroom Bypass project is finished and we become accessible. Kerry is the most disadvantaged county in Ireland in terms of infrastructure and is cut off from everything with goat track bohereen roads serving as the main artery into the county (N22 Cork) and until Abbeyfeale, Newcastlewest and Adare are by passed by Motorway or 2x2 roads then there will be no alternative, Shannon is too difficult to get to from Tralee with traffic and Cork too difficult from Killarney with bad roads so right in the middle we have Farranfore serving Kerry the Tourism jewel of Ireland and Kerry Airport gets alot of inward tourism moreso than outwards local traffic.

What do you expect that fool Healy Rae forced the last corrupt Fianna Fail government to spend 120 million on another bypass of Tralee from the Listowel road, that nobody uses and benefits very few. They also spent money on a dual carriageway bypass of Castleisland, there isn't even a dual carriageway west of Mullingar!!!!That Castleisland bypass is often completely empty for miles in the distance in both directions.... little kerry towns are much closer to any motorway than Sligo town or most of the west of Ireland. Hint: Sligo airport closed, Donegal airport almost closed.

That money would of bypassed Abbyfeale and Newcastlewest or bypassed Adare. So Kerry is not disadvantaged just the level of corruption in the "Kingdom" is probably at a higher level than most other counties. Maybe stop voting for the likes of the Healy Rae's, Ferris and O'Donoghues:rolleyes:

Shannon and Cork will ensure Kerry's closure within 5 years, its inevitable.

GCU Flexible Demeanour

mackjark wrote: »

<...>Later the larger Aer Arann began using Galway and when a chance came to build a longer runway and a bigger airport at the original Oranmore. This was rejected by vested interests in order to protect Aer Arann, ironic considering later events.<...>

I was interested in this bit, as I didn't understand why Galway Chamber of Commerce turned down the offer to relocate the airport onto Department of Defence lands, with the prospect of being able to build a runway with jet capacity.

However, is it fair to say that there was a reasonably conscious decision to prioritise Shannon and Knock. That strategy was endorsed by the BMW Regional Assembly some time ago. It also fit the politics - if Galway wasn't that pushed about an airport, while Mayo TDs were vocal in defence of Knock.

I mean, you do have a point. It would make more sense for Shannon Airport to be in a location that made it unambiguously Limerick City Airport; in the same way, Galway would be a more sensible location than Knock. But I think you'd, even then, still have that essential tension of having two airports too close together. You'd be replicating the Edinburgh/Glasgow problem - and Edinburgh and Glasgow are significantly bigger than Limerick and Galway Cities.

And, after all that, none of the Western seaboard airports are actually that effective in delivering business locally. Most tourists from abroad get here through Dublin Airport, even the one's bound for the East coast.

testicle

Deleted User wrote: »

Galway airport was always going to close, it is declared government policy to keep shannon going at the expense of other competing airports no matter how badly shannon does.

Declared where and by whom?

testicle

testicle wrote: »

Declared where and by whom?

By the minister of Transport.

http://www.irelandwestairport.com/ut...ls.aspx?id=308

Quote:
A series of Government statements has indicated that its aviation strategy was focussing on and supporting just one airport. In one such statement it was highlighted that a change in Government policy would be required to stop Knock catching up with Shannon. On 31st March 2012, quoted in the national media, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD said: “If nothing was done for Shannon the airport stood in danger of being passed out by Knock airport in passenger numbers, despite a current gap of over 900,000 passengers… I think if the trends continue as they are it will happen because Shannon’s numbers are already down 20 per cent this year and Knock is still growing. It is only a matter of time without a change in policy.”

notharrypotter

What do you expect that fool Healy Rae forced the last corrupt Fianna Fail government to spend 120 million on another bypass of Tralee from the Listowel road, that nobody uses and benefits very few

He is no fool.

There was a major benefit in this bypass.

You just have to look at the outcome.



=> Money well spent.

Patrickheg

notharrypotter wrote: »

He is no fool.

There was a major benefit in this bypass.

You just have to look at the outcome.



=> Money well spent.

A "major benefit" to a very very select few while the rest of us tax payers pay a fortune for a project that should never have gone ahead

the funding should have been allocated to a worthwhile project which will give value for money not one that allowed the clown family Healy Raes to continue milking the state.

lotusm

Stinicker wrote: »

Kerry is safe out whatever about Waterford Airport, Kerry Airport will be safe until such time as Adare in Limerick is Bypassed and the Ballyvourney-Lissarda Macroom Bypass project is finished and we become accessible. Kerry is the most disadvantaged county in Ireland in terms of infrastructure and is cut off from everything with goat track bohereen roads serving as the main artery into the county (N22 Cork) and until Abbeyfeale, Newcastlewest and Adare are by passed by Motorway or 2x2 roads then there will be no alternative, Shannon is too difficult to get to from Tralee with traffic and Cork too difficult from Killarney with bad roads so right in the middle we have Farranfore serving Kerry the Tourism jewel of Ireland and Kerry Airport gets alot of inward tourism moreso than outwards local traffic.

Kerry airport passengers numbers are falling year on year for the last 5. In 2012 it registered 286k passengers a decease of 8% from 2011. If it was not for the subsidise Dublin to Kerry route it would be in serious financial trouble. The airport is only an hour and half from either Shannon or Cork by car. Once the M20 is done it will struggle to survive and I would think sooner. As for your comments about the worst county with infrastructure, thats the best laugh I had all day, is that a Kerry man joke :-)

mackjark

I agree about Kerry Airport. It is doomed as a scheduled airport in the long run. It's only saving grace is it's long runway which allowed Ryanair to use it. But Ryanair have shown no interest in expanding it's services out of there and more to the point no one else is either. Once the road infrastructure is improved it will go the way of Galway and turn into a very nice General Aviation airport for visitors to Kerry or the best drag strip in Ireland.:p

Certainly it won't be allowed to be a threat to Shannon anymore than Knock will be allowed. Knock too has no guaranteed future. Shannon is linked by motorway in all directions now and with Limerick and Galway, the third and fourth biggest cities in Ireland, within easy reach. I drove from Shannon to Galway in 47 minutes recently and this without the motorway being finished.

There won't always be a Mayo Taoiseach, remember.

mackjark

mackjark wrote: »

There won't always be a Mayo Taoiseach, remember.

Up to now no government has done less for Knock or the whole region than this government and Enda kenny. Nobody will ever be able to say that Enda Kenny favored his own :mad:. Obviously not from the same school of thought as Bertie and Cowen.

Any news roads in the west of Ireland will only improve Knocks viability.

lotusm

Sure it was a fine Gael government that nearly closed Knock back in the eighties and they are doing there level best to do the same again. Since Leo give Shannon 100 million euro write off debts I don't think Knock will be getting any favouritism of that level

Its almost like that Enda does not want to be seen to be favouring his own county. He has not created jobs of any number. One time it may have counted to have a Taoisach from your own county, but not when the country is broke...

lomb

Most of these regional airports from a commercial point of view are useless therefore they should close.
Of course from a GA perspective they are probably viable with a SAR service.
I was up in Sligo airport a few months ago and the place appeared open but was a ghost town. They seem to tick over with a bit of GA and SAR. They have let staff go/ put others on half time.
In 20 years probably only Shannon, Dublin and Donegal will be open for commercial traffic. The rest will turn into something like Sligo. That probably includes Waterford sadly.

markpb

Deleted User wrote: »

Nobody will ever be able to say that Enda Kenny favored his own :mad:.

And this is a bad thing?

imurdaddy

Thread about galway closing = knock waffle waffle hard done by, waffle waffle shannon is eveil! Any chance to moan on about knocks failings! No mention of the money private airport knock which as taken millions in handouts from the taxpayer. Its all boring listing to same bitter sad posts from uninformed.

as with previous posters have stated the future holds 3 airports dublin, shannon and cork.

I personally will miss galway as I did alot of flying to and from there, and hopefully GA will grow there.

Mister R

With Knock and Shannon this airport was never going to be going anywhere. It was inevitable. To be honest during the boom the West coast was littered with tiny airports that weren't really serving any purpose, as I saw on another forum a British pilot once noted that the majority of Irish people live on the East coast but most airports are on the West coast. The whole east coast uses Dublin but at one point Sligo, Knock and Galway were all operational.

lotusm

imurdaddy wrote: »

Thread about galway closing = knock waffle waffle hard done by, waffle waffle shannon is eveil! Any chance to moan on about knocks failings! No mention of the money private airport knock which as taken millions in handouts from the taxpayer. Its all boring listing to same bitter sad posts from uninformed.

as with previous posters have stated the future holds 3 airports dublin, shannon and cork.

I personally will miss galway as I did alot of flying to and from there, and hopefully GA will grow there.

More like Shannon's failings.. the taxpayer is bailing it out since the day it opened and continues to do so. Needs another War in da middle east just so to keep passenger numbers up.

Nonoperational

FWVT wrote: »

Only in Ireland could the country's 4th city, a huge tourist attraction and gateway to Connemara, be without an airport. I know Shannon and Knock are a little over an hour away in both directions but historically Galway should have developed to be the main airport serving the city.

Ah would you go away with your "only in Ireland' nonsense. There were 3 airports within 150km of each other and unfortunately Galway didn't survive. It's all very well saying that it should be Galway, but ultimately not enough people used it and it was unviable.

JustAddWater

Mister R wrote: »

The whole east coast uses Dublin but at one point Sligo, Knock and Galway were all operational.

Plus Cork and Kerry!

Mister R

Yes those as well, I was just even showing how the least populous province had 3 airports at one point (way over capacity). Actually during the peak of airports in the country Munster had 3, Connacht had 3 but Leinster (by far the most populous) only had 1.

Now I'm not saying Leinster needs another but there certainly doesn't need to be a ton of tiny airports dotted along the West coast.

FWVT

Nonoperational wrote: »

Ah would you go away with your "only in Ireland' nonsense. There were 3 airports within 150km of each other and unfortunately Galway didn't survive. It's all very well saying that it should be Galway, but ultimately not enough people used it and it was unviable.

I know, that's what I said, read it again! Calm down...

L1011

Mister R wrote: »

Actually during the peak of airports in the country Munster had 3.

Had (and still has) 4 - Waterford seems to get forgotten!

flazio

From what I can see it's Ryanair that's keeping Knock running as well as it is and it probably helps Shannon a lot as well. (Though Shannon isn't as dependent) Fact of the matter is Galway's runway is too short for FR jets to land and at the moment Ryanair are the only company who could make routes from Galway to the UK financially viable for the passengers. Therefore, no Ryanair, no viable airport. (Not a big fan of Ryanair but that's the reality as I see it.)