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Break up of DAA

  • 09-05-2012 1:39pm
    #1
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    Shannon Airport is to become independent of Dublin Airport, and Cork will remain as part of the group. Seeing as Shannon's passenger numbers in recent years have collapsed, it can't be a bad thing and may foster competition. Is this a good move for Irish airports ?


    http://www.rte.ie/aertel/104-01.html


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Neworder79
    Registered Users Posts: 607 ✭✭✭Neworder79


    They've stated that Cork isn't being split, they are also going to rename the DAA. Probably something like the Irish Airport Debt Resolution Corporation.


  • #3
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    Neworder79 wrote: »
    They've stated that Cork isn't being split, they are also going to rename the DAA. Probably something like the Irish Airport Debt Resolution Corporation.

    That's interesting, did they give a reason why cork isn't being split? Ok, edited the thread about cork, thanks neworder.


  • #4
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users Posts: 7,820 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Neworder79 wrote: »
    They've stated that Cork isn't being split, they are also going to rename the DAA. Probably something like the Irish Airport Debt Resolution Corporation.
    not far off it.
    According to this Article the DAA has €750 million of debt, of which €220 is due to Cork Airport and €100 million to shannon.

    Aparantly Cork isnt being split as its doing fine at the moment according to a report the minister got a couple of months back which recommended Shannon (only) being spun off
    http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0229/shannon.html


  • #5
    AngryLips
    Registered Users Posts: 2,676 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    I think Cork has quite a large debt from building the new terminal and that's not something it can carry on it's own. Regardless, the increased competition between Cork and Shannon can only be a good thing.


  • #6
    Neworder79
    Registered Users Posts: 607 ✭✭✭Neworder79


    the increased competition between Cork and Shannon can only be a good thing.

    Yes good for the travelling public and taxpayer. But will the DAA now be open to transatlantic flights from Cork? If so watch the new 'free' independent Shannon revert to demanding the Government protect 'their' flights.


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  • #7
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Shannons future is largely maintenance training logistics and cargo. Passenger traffic will be a niche activity.


  • #8
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    Neworder79 wrote: »
    Yes good for the travelling public and taxpayer. But will the DAA now be open to transatlantic flights from Cork? If so watch the new 'free' independent Shannon revert to demanding the Government protect 'their' flights.

    Very doubtful. Last Government couldn't even keep aer lingus from moving flights to belfast to service heathrow.


  • #9
    AngryLips
    Registered Users Posts: 2,676 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    liammur wrote: »
    Very doubtful. Last Government couldn't even keep aer lingus from moving flights to belfast to service heathrow.

    And, of course, for the Government to do anything of the sort wouldn't be desirable; it would only have a distorting effect on competition.


  • #10
    Viviana Salmon Rent
    Posts: 0 ✭ Viviana Salmon Rent


    AngryLips wrote: »
    And, of course, for the Government to do anything of the sort wouldn't be desirable; it would only have a distorting effect on competition.

    Giving shannon a 100 million debt write off by the taxpayer has a distorting effect on competition with Knock, Yet the government went with it. Don't underestimate there stupidity, they seem to like rewarding incompetence.:confused:


  • #11
    troposphere
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 174 ✭✭troposphere


    liammur wrote: »
    That's interesting, did they give a reason why cork isn't being split? Ok, edited the thread about cork, thanks neworder.

    From the report [link] that was issued a few months ago
    The book value of the assets at Cork Airport and its long term earnings potential is viewed by the DAA as being critical to securing the DAA's debt position. Booz supported this view since the existing arrangements provided the DAA and it major lenders with the greatest level of security for maintaining the the level of borrowing that is included in the current business plan.


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  • #12
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,442 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    In other words Cork is a very profitable and valuable airport.

    Could you imagine how successful Cork could be if it was also spun off (even with it's own debt) and left to compete aggressively, including maybe some Transatlantic Routes. It would probably finish off Shannon completely.


  • #13
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    bk wrote: »
    In other words Cork is a very profitable and valuable airport.

    Could you imagine how successful Cork could be if it was also spun off (even with it's own debt) and left to compete aggressively, including maybe some Transatlantic Routes. It would probably finish off Shannon completely.

    Shannon was at a huge disadvantage under the DAA e.g Aer Lingus wanted it's Paris flight to leave early in the morning, for business etc, but the DAA said no, had to be a late flight. They ended pulling the flight.

    Can we get any more uncompetitive than this?


  • #14
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    AngryLips wrote: »
    And, of course, for the Government to do anything of the sort wouldn't be desirable; it would only have a distorting effect on competition.

    The funny thing is, few in belfast took the flight up and Aer Lingus had no other option but to the bring the flight back to shannon. How humiliating for both company and government.


  • #15
    markpb
    Registered Users Posts: 9,238 ✭✭✭markpb


    liammur wrote: »
    Shannon was at a huge disadvantage under the DAA e.g Aer Lingus wanted it's Paris flight to leave early in the morning, for business etc, but the DAA said no, had to be a late flight. They ended pulling the flight.

    Got a link for that - I'm not doubting you but I can't see why the DAA would have any say in the flight times.


  • #16
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    markpb wrote: »
    Got a link for that - I'm not doubting you but I can't see why the DAA would have any say in the flight times.


    I heard that on the radio yesterday during a discussion on the topic. Shouldn't be impossible to find out 1 way or another.


  • #17
    antoobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭antoobrien


    markpb wrote: »
    Got a link for that - I'm not doubting you but I can't see why the DAA would have any say in the flight times.

    I can't remember, did Aerlingus move all flights from Shannon or just some of them?


  • #18
    AngryLips
    Registered Users Posts: 2,676 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Giving shannon a 100 million debt write off by the taxpayer has a distorting effect on competition with Knock, Yet the government went with it. Don't underestimate there stupidity, they seem to like rewarding incompetence.:confused:

    And leaving Shannon with the debt would almost certainly sink Shannon ...not exactly good for competition either.
    bk wrote: »
    In other words Cork is a very profitable and valuable airport.

    Actually quite the opposite, Cork Airport has double the amount of debt than Shannon but is only a third higher in terms of passenger numbers.

    Trans-Atlantic is never going to happen from Cork with Shannon only down the road. Aer Lingus may have scaled back longhaul from Shannon but other airlines have increased it. It's an established market from the US and Cork would be up against that.


  • #19
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    antoobrien wrote: »
    I can't remember, did Aerlingus move all flights from Shannon or just some of them?

    They scaled back flights between America & shannon, and after the belfast flight was a complete flop, they had no option but to reinstate it, egg on their faces after that fiasco.


  • #20
    antoobrien
    Registered Users Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭antoobrien


    liammur wrote: »
    They scaled back flights between America & shannon, and after the belfast flight was a complete flop, they had no option but to reinstate it, egg on their faces after that fiasco.

    Sorry, I was talking specifically about flights to heathrow.

    So to answer my own question, yes they did stop all flights to heathrow. The route resumed 3 years ago.

    http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1222/aerlingus.html


  • #21
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    antoobrien wrote: »
    Sorry, I was talking specifically about flights to heathrow.

    So to answer my own question, yes they did stop all flights to heathrow. The route resumed 3 years ago.

    http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1222/aerlingus.html[/QUOTE]

    Yes, that's correct. The business community were up in arms because they had no connectivity.


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  • #22
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    AngryLips wrote: »
    Actually quite the opposite, Cork Airport has double the amount of debt than Shannon but is only a third higher in terms of passenger numbers.

    Cork has a brand new terminal to account for that. Shannon's debt is from years of losses and some work to improve its quite old terminal.


  • #23
    lucernarian
    Registered Users Posts: 9,235 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    If Cork had the length in runway it needs then transatlantic flights could easily happen. May just be limited to New York though with demand etc. So not really worth spending lots of money on.

    And yes, the DAA are a remarkably incompetent organisation beyond preserving their own job roles and doing those proberly. They're completely inflexible when it comes to other businesses working in the airport and the facilities they have to provide. I won't start on the layout of trying to walk in or out of T2 to anywhere else!


  • #24
    Stinicker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,102 ✭✭✭Stinicker


    To_be_confirmed wrote: »
    If Cork had the length in runway it needs then transatlantic flights could easily happen. May just be limited to New York though with demand etc. So not really worth spending lots of money on.

    Could the Boeing 787 manage it? It is pretty stupid that Ireland's second City Cork is not connected to the US, it is almost as convenient to drive from Cork to Dublin Airport as it is to drive to Shannon from Cork when you consider the bohereen dirt-track of an excuse that is the N20 of a road between the two cities. Knock Airport is the future for the West and Shannon unless it gets its act together might aswell close.


  • #25
    AngryLips
    Registered Users Posts: 2,676 ✭✭✭AngryLips


    Stinicker wrote: »
    Could the Boeing 787 manage it? It is pretty stupid that Ireland's second City Cork is not connected to the US, it is almost as convenient to drive from Cork to Dublin Airport as it is to drive to Shannon from Cork when you consider the bohereen dirt-track of an excuse that is the N20 of a road between the two cities. Knock Airport is the future for the West and Shannon unless it gets its act together might aswell close.

    In fairness, how many other European cities with the same population as Cork are able to sustain a transatlantic service?


  • #26
    Stinicker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,102 ✭✭✭Stinicker


    AngryLips wrote: »
    In fairness, how many other European cities with the same population as Cork are able to sustain a transatlantic service?

    Reykjavik in Iceland does. Cork airport serves Munster and would serve Munster better than Shannon does, while those in North Tipp and Waterford maybe more inclined to fly from Dublin.

    Knock serves the entire western coast nicely and North too, Shannon will have nothing going for it unless the roads into it are improved, M20 and Motorway north of Gort.


  • #27
    dowlingm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,309 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Keflavik is the only international airport in Iceland. (Reykjavik is a domestic airport only).

    Cork is the third largest airport in the Republic of Ireland and either 4th or 5th largest on the island. DUB and SNN have US customs, ORK don't. Bit of a difference no?


  • #28
    Viviana Salmon Rent
    Posts: 0 ✭ Viviana Salmon Rent


    AngryLips wrote: »
    In fairness, how many other European cities with the same population as Cork are able to sustain a transatlantic service?
    Knock did fly to Boston and New York untill Flyglobespan went bust a couple of years ago. Some talk of new routes to USA but i think Knock would be better sticking to European flights.


  • #29
    Viviana Salmon Rent
    Posts: 0 ✭ Viviana Salmon Rent


    Stinicker wrote: »
    Reykjavik in Iceland does. Cork airport serves Munster and would serve Munster better than Shannon does, while those in North Tipp and Waterford maybe more inclined to fly from Dublin.

    Knock serves the entire western coast nicely and North too, Shannon will have nothing going for it unless the roads into it are improved, M20 and Motorway north of Gort.

    If the M20 is completed it would actually take custom from Shannon as there is already a motorway from as far south as Adare right to SNN. A new M20 would have increasing Limerick and north Kerry people using Cork. It also already has good motorway access to the East. The Government and SNN lobby do appear to have given it every chance to succeed even giving it 100 million write off of taxpayers money recently(which was IMO will be used as a disadvantage to Cork and Knock and is completely anti-competitive).
    SNN is simply in the wrong place unlike Knock It doesn't serve the west as DUB is closer than SNN for all the northwest and Cork serves the South.


  • #30
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,442 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    dowlingm wrote: »
    Cork is the third largest airport in the Republic of Ireland and either 4th or 5th largest on the island. DUB and SNN have US customs, ORK don't. Bit of a difference no?

    Cork is the second largest airport in the Republic and the fourth largest on the island by passenger figures.

    Cork international passenger figures are up (total figures were down 2% for 2011 due to the lose of the Cork to Dublin route, but that is a once off). Shannon was down 37% in 2010 and 7.4% in 2011.

    The agreement for US customs applies to all Irish airports, so US customs could be moved to Cork if TA flights moved to there.

    Realistically there should really be only one TA airport in a country the size of Ireland and that would obviously be Dublin. If you are going to have a second, Cork makes a lot more sense then Shannon.

    The only limiting factor at Cork is the length of the runway and therefore the ability to handle larger TA aircraft. There are plans to rectify this in due course.


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  • #31
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    bk wrote: »
    The agreement for US customs applies to all Irish airports, so US customs could be moved to Cork if TA flights moved to there..

    US CBP *may* (I've not used the new terminal) require significant changes to the fabric of the terminal, as it requires dedicated gates and a separate secure zone.

    It would cost vast quantities of money to do changes of this kind if required - which is why T1 in DUB kept its old partial pre-clearance until T2 was built.


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