Galway Airport - mega merge

ben.schlomo · 21-05-2015 12:59pm

antoobrien wrote: »

It's not anecdotal, I have the records to prove it: the cost of both sets of return flights - including taxes and charges - was a little over 250.

How many days in advance is "last minute" - does 10 & 14 days count?

Now I don't know about you, but when I'm travelling on business and need to be lucid until 10pm on a Tuesday, getting a bus to Dublin at 1am on Tuesday morning is not a good idea.

Actually, even when I'm travelling for my own benefit, getting a silly o clock bus to Dublin for the sake of a cheap flight is a really bad idea.

That would be the ryanair model of 3/4 seats at 35, 3/4 seats at 45 then the rest at full price.

Btw does that offer include landing charges and taxes?

He didnt say you didnt pay it, he said its not the average rate, which it isnt. Example below for you, might help save you money next time you fly.;)

http://www.skyscanner.ie/transport/flights/shan/lond/150714/150714/airfares-in-july-2015.html?rtn=1&includeOnePlusStops=false&browsePrice=65&age=0

http://www.skyscanner.ie/transport/flights/snn/lond/150602/150602/airfares-from-shannon-to-london-in-june-2015.html?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&cabinclass=economy&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false&rtn=1

JillyQ · 21-05-2015 2:25pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

He didnt say you didnt pay it, he said its not the average rate, which it isnt. Example below for you, might help save you money next time you fly.;)

http://www.skyscanner.ie/transport/flights/shan/lond/150714/150714/airfares-in-july-2015.html?rtn=1&includeOnePlusStops=false&browsePrice=65&age=0

http://www.skyscanner.ie/transport/flights/snn/lond/150602/150602/airfares-from-shannon-to-london-in-june-2015.html?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&cabinclass=economy&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false&rtn=1

He also didnt say how far out he booked it. If you are travelling for business the flights can be at short notice.

antoobrien · 21-05-2015 2:37pm

ben.schlomo wrote: »

He didnt say you didnt pay it, he said its not the average rate, which it isnt.

No what was said was usually the price is about 20% of what I've paid....but the post didn't specify the whens, wheres or whys of travel, just berated me post "last minute" flights that were booked over a week before flying.

The three times I've flown to London (Heathrow & City), I've paid over €200 (two business & one personal, but that's so long ago I can't remember what the details were), so either I'm the most unlucky person alive when flying to London, or the offers that are being referred to are not comparable with my trips.

And no I'm not suggesting that Galway could realistically get flights to Heathrow, just that the argument about the viability of Galway Airport is a lot less clear cut than a lot of people would like to make it seem.

kippy · 21-05-2015 2:49pm

antoobrien wrote: »

No what was said was usually the price is about 20% of what I've paid....but the post didn't specify the whens, wheres or whys of travel, just berated me post "last minute" flights that were booked over a week before flying.

The three times I've flown to London (Heathrow & City), I've paid over €200 (two business & one personal, but that's so long ago I can't remember what the details were), so either I'm the most unlucky person alive when flying to London, or the offers that are being referred to are not comparable with my trips.

And no I'm not suggesting that Galway could realistically get flights to Heathrow, just that the argument about the viability of Galway Airport is a lot less clear cut than a lot of people would like to make it seem.

No, its not, it's pretty clear cut.
Obviously it would be nice to have an airport there but it's simply not viable when there are two airports within a 60-75 minute *soon to be shorter* drive.
If anything links via public transport to either/both of these airports should be where the money is spent rather than subsidising a small and limited facility.

antoobrien · 21-05-2015 3:08pm

kippy wrote: »

No, its not, it's pretty clear cut.
Obviously it would be nice to have an airport there but it's simply not viable when there are two airports within a 60-75 minute *soon to be shorter* drive.
If anything links via public transport to either/both of these airports should be where the money is spent rather than subsidising a small and limited facility.

The your argument is that, given a 200m shorter runway, London City should not be viable as it is even more limited than Galway.

kippy · 21-05-2015 3:12pm

antoobrien wrote: »

The your argument is that, given a 200m shorter runway, London City should not be viable as it is even more limited than Galway.

Runway size wasnt part of my argument. Nonethe less if you want to comparr LCA with Galway airport, population size and density are the key factors to compare viability on.....

antoobrien · 21-05-2015 3:44pm

kippy wrote: »

Runway size wasnt part of my argument. Nonethe less if you want to comparr LCA with Galway airport, population size and density are the key factors to compare viability on.....

No your argument was "limited facility".

If we want to go on population size, Knock is doing fine.

Aerohead · 21-05-2015 3:54pm

Listening to live ATC an hour ago and one French Jet and one UK aircraft had to divert from Galway due to foggy conditions , shows they are operating ok out there, cant do anything about the weather.

kippy · 21-05-2015 4:02pm

antoobrien wrote: »

No your argument was "limited facility".

If we want to go on population size, Knock is doing fine.

Limited as proven not to be able stand on its own two feet.
Knock is a bigger airport.....

antoobrien · 21-05-2015 4:18pm

kippy wrote: »

Limited as proven not to be able stand on its own two feet.
Knock is a bigger airport.....

Well if you keep moving the goalposts you can prove anything you like.

kippy · 21-05-2015 5:23pm

antoobrien wrote: »

Well if you keep moving the goalposts you can prove anything you like.

You seem to think only one factor in isolation is the key. There are many factors and if anyone is moving the goal posts its you. First comparing Galway to London, then to Knock.
The facts are simple. Galway was unable to stand on its own too feet without significant support, has a limitation on aircraft size and is withing a relatively close proximity to knock and shannon who have far more options available.

paconnors · 21-05-2015 7:03pm

Aerohead wrote: »

Listening to live ATC an hour ago and one French Jet and one UK aircraft had to divert from Galway due to foggy conditions , shows they are operating ok out there, cant do anything about the weather.

What frequency are you listening on?

Aerohead · 21-05-2015 8:26pm

paconnors wrote: »

What frequency are you listening on?

I was listening to Shannon Airport on live ATC

Links234 · 22-05-2015 6:28am

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but didn't Aer Arran do some sort of deal that kept Ryanair out of the airport?

JillyQ · 22-05-2015 7:07am

Links234 wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but didn't Aer Arran do some sort of deal that kept Ryanair out of the airport?

Ryanair only fly Boeing 737's which are to large to land at Galway. I don't know where you got that idea.

Aerohead · 22-05-2015 9:12am

JillyQ wrote: »

Ryanair only fly Boeing 737's which are to large to land at Galway. I don't know where you got that idea.

When Ryanair were operating from Galway Airport they were using ATR Aircraft which are the same type Aer Arann used, I flew on Ryanair from Galway in the old days pity they are not here today.

JillyQ · 22-05-2015 10:24am

Aerohead wrote: »

When Ryanair were operating from Galway Airport they were using ATR Aircraft which are the same type Aer Arann used, I flew on Ryanair from Galway in the old days pity they are not here today.

Im very well aware that. Ryanair made a decision to stop using propeller driven planes therefore pulling out of Galway Aer Lingus then came in & took over the root. Aer Arann came after that sometime in the mid nineties

antoobrien · 22-05-2015 11:33am

Links234 wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but didn't Aer Arran do some sort of deal that kept Ryanair out of the airport?

No that was years later.

Aerohead · 22-05-2015 11:41am

Here is the info for you and I would ask the doubters to look how in 2007 Galway was the fastest growing Airport in Ireland, can happen again

The runway was extended to 1200 metres and completed on 2 March 1987. Although it could accommodate larger aircraft it remained unsuitable for jet airliners and continues to be entirely served by regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR-42. The first jet arrived at the airport on 30 March from Ohio USA. It was a 12-seater Gulf-Stream II and many more small business jets used the airport. A terminal and runway lighting was completed by June of that year. In January 1988 Aer Lingus re-introduced the Dublin route, in March Ryanair launched a new route to London Luton and later re-routed it to Stansted. The two airlines went into a business war, Ryanair offering cheap flights direct to London and Aer Lingus to Heathrow, Amsterdam and Paris on selected days via Dublin. In 1991 due to business restructuring Ryanair withdrew their London service and Aer Lingus were soon to follow.

In 1994 Aer Arann began the Dublin route supported by the state funded Public Service Obligation scheme. The route operated 3 times daily until state funding was withdrawn in 2011 and the airline ceased services on the route. In September 2001 they launched a service to London Luton and the load factor by 2003 was at 73%. The one millionth passenger passed through the airport in April 2002. The airport was gaining popularity and in 2003 Aer Arann launched two more routes to Manchester and Edinburgh with two further routes to Birmingham and Lorient launched in 2004.

By 2007 Galway was officially the fastest growing airport in Ireland, fast exceeding international airports with passenger growth at 63% per annum at that time. 16 destinations were served directly, Bristol, Cardiff, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Luton, Lorient, Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast City, Birmingham, Southampton, Bordeaux, Faro and Malaga. That year saw a record 309,000 passengers use the airport. The 2 millionth passenger also passed through that year. Aer Arann added a service to Amsterdam in 2008 which operated via Waterford Airport but was discontinued after a short period. In 2010 Manx2 added two services – Belfast International and Cork. These services were withdrawn in 2011.

dloob · 22-05-2015 12:31pm

Links234 wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but didn't Aer Arran do some sort of deal that kept Ryanair out of the airport?

There was an offer to relocate the airport years ago to Oranmore lands owned by the department of defense.
It would have a had a runway large enough for 737s which would have allowed Ryanair to return.
Aer Arran was not impressed and the chamber rejected the offer.

WallyGUFC · 22-05-2015 7:49pm

They need to extend the runway for it to be fully commercially viable. Could they not have bought the land when things were going well and do this?
In it's current guise I'm sure it could be a successful airfield.

Storm 10 · 22-05-2015 8:34pm

WallyGUFC wrote: »

They need to extend the runway for it to be fully commercially viable. Could they not have bought the land when things were going well and do this?
In it's current guise I'm sure it could be a successful airfield.

When the Airport was going well they purchased some land on the City side to extend the runway however some of the landowners put the price up and the deal fell through, if the purchases had gone ahead they would have been able to land 737s there

GekkePrutser · 25-05-2015 1:18am

Aerohead wrote: »

The first jet arrived at the airport on 30 March from Ohio USA. It was a 12-seater Gulf-Stream II and many more small business jets used the airport.

I don't think that was quite the first jet - I've been told Steiner used it for his learjet while it was still his private field - on the old short runway (which is now the taxiway / apron). They must have been going through a lot of brake pads on that one

"Fastest Growing" is an easy goal to hit for a small airport by the way, if you have 1 plane in one year and 2 in the next year you have a 100% growth rate, beat that Dublin :P

That said I would love to see Galway operating commercial flights again. But I'd be happy with some healthy amounts of General Aviation activity. I'm surprised the parachuting crowd never came back, they were doing so much business 2 years ago.

JillyQ · 25-05-2015 1:28am

GekkePrutser wrote: »

I don't think that was quite the first jet - I've been told Steiner used it for his learjet while it was still his private field - on the old short runway (which is now the taxiway / apron). They must have been going through a lot of brake pads on that one

"Fastest Growing" is an easy goal to hit for a small airport by the way, if you have 1 plane in one year and 2 in the next year you have a 100% growth rate, beat that Dublin :P

That said I would love to see Galway operating commercial flights again. But I'd be happy with some healthy amounts of General Aviation activity. I'm surprised the parachuting crowd never came back, they were doing so much business 2 years ago.

You are 100% right about steiner. There is a book called the history of flying in Galway it goes through the whole thing about oranmore v carnmore in the 1970's and exactly what happened and alot of the people involved init.

serfboard · 25-05-2015 1:40pm

More nonsense on this thread about Galway when an hour up the road and an hour down the road we have airports that can land 747s, plus we have a bus to Dublin Airport every half an hour ...

I'd like an airport right behind my house - it would be dead handy for me ... why doesn't the government spend a whole lot of everybody else taxes to get me what I want ... :rolleyes:

the untitled user · 25-05-2015 7:30pm

serfboard wrote: »

More nonsense on this thread about Galway when an hour up the road and an hour down the road we have airports that can land 747s, plus we have a bus to Dublin Airport every half an hour ...

An hour? More like two. Knock can be done in 1hr20, Shannon in 1hr10 if it's off peak and traffic is light. I use both airports regularly and I've been over 2hrs before getting back from both (to the west side of Galway admittedly). You can be as quick going to Dublin. And let's not even get started about the public transport connections, if I'm getting an evening flight in I can forget about getting a bus to Galway.

Before the crash, passenger numbers in the regional airports were doing quite well. Take for example Kerry airport, which handles a little over 300,000 passengers a year, it was posting a profit in 2009. So, as the economy returns to growth, and factor in the increased amount of visits to/from the latest generation of émigrés (my calculations put it at ~4000 from Galway city alone since the airport stopped doing commercial flights) along with the increase in tourism seen from the Wild Atlantic Way to the west of the country, it should be possible to make an airport for Galway viable again.

kippy · 25-05-2015 7:59pm

the untitled user wrote: »

An hour? More like two. Knock can be done in 1hr20, Shannon in 1hr10 if it's off peak and traffic is light. I use both airports regularly and I've been over 2hrs before getting back from both (to the west side of Galway admittedly). You can be as quick going to Dublin. And let's not even get started about the public transport connections, if I'm getting an evening flight in I can forget about getting a bus to Galway.

Before the crash, passenger numbers in the regional airports were doing quite well. Take for example Kerry airport, which handles a little over 300,000 passengers a year, it was posting a profit in 2009. So, as the economy returns to growth, and factor in the increased amount of visits to/from the latest generation of émigrés (my calculations put it at ~4000 from Galway city alone since the airport stopped doing commercial flights) along with the increase in tourism seen from the Wild Atlantic Way to the west of the country, it should be possible to make an airport for Galway viable again.

No. Not possible without significant state intervention.
Better to spend money on shannon and knock and upgrade public transport in and out of galway to all three airports.

the untitled user · 25-05-2015 8:16pm

kippy wrote: »

No. Not possible without significant state intervention.
Better to spend money on shannon and knock and upgrade public transport in and out of galway to all three airports.

Perhaps. There would need to be intervention on the capital side from the State for sure, but then the knock on effects from the presence of an airport tend to be huge (Cork estimate their airport with 2million passengers a year generates €700m+ for the local economy). And keep in mind that infrastructure in the west is so poor currently that the ROI tends to be quite significant (NRA estimate N18 Tuam-Gort bypass will generate a return of 7 times the investment for the local economy).

My own rough guesstimates based on current emigration levels mentioned, I reckon flights to/from the recently emigrated from Galway alone would have inflated passengar numbers for the country by at least 100,000, probably closer to twice that. And, as I mentioned above, it has been shown in the past that you don't need millions of passengers a year to operate a profitable airport.

kippy · 25-05-2015 8:19pm

the untitled user wrote: »

Perhaps. There would need to be intervention on the capital side from the State for sure, but then the knock on effects from the presence of an airport tend to be huge (Cork estimate their airport with 2million passengers a year generates €700m+ for the local economy).

My own rough guesstimates based on current emigration levels mentioned, I reckon flights to/from the recently emigrated from Galway alone would have inflated passengar numbers for the country by at least 100,000, probably closer to twice that. And, as I mentioned above, it has been shown in the past that you don't need millions of passengers a year to operate a profitable airport.

Who is to say that the increases in passenger numbers at both knock and shannon arent already contributing to the tourism and spend figures in galway city?
You cant in any way use those figures as you have no basis for them and even if those were the numbers one might suggest they already fly into knock or shannon......

Dan_Solo · 25-05-2015 8:39pm

the untitled user wrote: »

(Cork estimate their airport with 2million passengers a year generates €700m+ for the local economy).

For that to be true you would have to say none of those 2 million passengers would have come to Cork if they didn't have an airport. And this whole "catalytic benefit" thing is total guessery which coincidentally only appears to turn up in airport PR material...

lotusm · 25-05-2015 8:42pm

the untitled user wrote: »

An hour? More like two. Knock can be done in 1hr20, Shannon in 1hr10 if it's off peak and traffic is light. I use both airports regularly and I've been over 2hrs before getting back from both (to the west side of Galway admittedly). You can be as quick going to Dublin. And let's not even get started about the public transport connections, if I'm getting an evening flight in I can forget about getting a bus to Galway.

Before the crash, passenger numbers in the regional airports were doing quite well. Take for example Kerry airport, which handles a little over 300,000 passengers a year, it was posting a profit in 2009. So, as the economy returns to growth, and factor in the increased amount of visits to/from the latest generation of émigrés (my calculations put it at ~4000 from Galway city alone since the airport stopped doing commercial flights) along with the increase in tourism seen from the Wild Atlantic Way to the west of the country, it should be possible to make an airport for Galway viable again.

When the M17 is done from Gort to Tuam it will be 1 hour peak to either Knock and Shannon from Galway and also has the M6 to Dublin airport just over 2 hours. other counties would give there right arm for that sort infrastructure on their doorstep to be honest:rolleyes::P

the untitled user · 25-05-2015 9:21pm

kippy wrote: »

Who is to say that the increases in passenger numbers at both knock and shannon arent already contributing to the tourism and spend figures in galway city?

In the last month, two of my collegues at work here in the UK on separate occasions went to Dublin for a weekend break. They didn't even consider Galway when I suggested it to them because, and this shouldn't come as a surprise, you cannot travel to Galway on a Friday evening via public transport from the "local" airports.

You cant in any way use those figures as you have no basis for them and even if those were the numbers one might suggest they already fly into knock or shannon......

Of course not, those are rough back of the envelope calculations combining overall emigration rates with my own experiences and those of my other friends and relatives from Galway living here in the UK because, unfortunately, there aren't any official sources of information I can use to arrive at a figure more accurate than that. But still, I personally think that that anecdotal evidence is strong enough to suggest we could at least consider and evaluate it as a possibility and no one yet has offered me any sources of data that would suggest otherwise.

kippy · 25-05-2015 9:24pm

the untitled user wrote: »

In the last month, two of my collegues at work here in the UK on separate occasions went to Dublin for a weekend break. They didn't even consider Galway when I suggested it to them because, and this shouldn't come as a surprise, you cannot travel to Galway on a Friday evening via public transport from the "local" airports.

Of course not, those are rough back of the envelope calculations based on my own experiences and those of my other friends and relatives from Galway living here in the UK. But unfortunately, there aren't any official sources of information I can use to arrive at a figure more accurate than that. And I personally think that that anecdotal evidence is strong enough to suggest we could at least consider and evaluate it as a possibility.

More tourists tend to go to Dublin alright......
Your story probably highlights the need for better transport links rather than anything else.

Going by your logic tourism in Galway should have dramaticilly dropped since the airport closed. Think the opposite has been the case.

the untitled user · 25-05-2015 9:40pm

kippy wrote: »

More tourists tend to go to Dublin alright......
Your story probably highlights the need for better transport links rather than anything else.

Quite right. I'll be looking forward to the City bypass and the M17/M18 scheme. But you're completely overlooking the fact that wont fix the pulic transport issues. My life would still be far easier if I could fly to the city directly, even with those bypasses I still have to arrange my own transport if I'm coming over on after work flight. I'd personally benefit far more from a direct flight to Galway and I'm certainly not the only one, so I hope you can understand my enthusiasm for any revival of commercial flights from Galway to the UK.

kippy wrote: »

Going by your logic tourism in Galway should have dramaticilly dropped since the airport closed. Think the opposite has been the case.

That's actually really hard to estimate. The recession caused the country as a whole to go through a massive devaluation that made Ireland much more attrative to tourists. Plus, the promotions of the gathering and the wild atlantic west have been huge. Here in the UK and recently on a trip to Paris I was spammed everywhere where I went with images of Clare/Connemara/Mayo/Donegal, that wasn't happening in 2011.

Overall, estimates on the increase in tourism in the west is 10/20%, which is fantastic and long may it continue. But keep in mind those are long staying tourists usually coming for a week or more. We're still locked out of the City break market completely with the current state of the transport to/from Galway. And given how popular Galway is with weekend tourists from within the country, we're probably missing out on a massive market here.

kippy · 25-05-2015 9:52pm

the untitled user wrote: »

Quite right. I'll be looking forward to the City bypass and the M17/M18 scheme. But you're completely overlooking the fact that wont fix the pulic transport issues. My life would still be far easier if I could fly to the city directly, even with those bypasses I still have to arrange my own transport if I'm coming over on after work flight. I'd personally benefit far more from a direct flight to Galway and I'm certainly not the only one, so I hope you can understand my enthusiasm for any revival of commercial flights from Galway to the UK.

That's actually really hard to estimate. The recession caused the country as a whole to go through a massive devaluation that made Ireland much more attrative to tourists. Plus, the promotions of the gathering and the wild atlantic west have been huge. Here in the UK and recently on a trip to Paris I was spammed everywhere where I went with images of Clare/Connemara/Mayo/Donegal, that wasn't happening in 2011.

Overall, estimates on the increase in tourism in the west is 10/20%, which is fantastic and long may it continue. But keep in mind those are long staying tourists usually coming for a week or more. We're still locked out of the City break market completely with the current state of the transport to/from Galway. And given how popular Galway is with weekend tourists from within the country, we're probably missing out on a massive market here.

I was talking about basic public transport. ie a bus to galway from knock/shannon after arriving flights late on.

Hard to estimate alright but the numbers are up.

Probably? Who is to know.

And again we would all like an airport on our doorstep.

GekkePrutser · 26-05-2015 11:22am

the untitled user wrote: »

Quite right. I'll be looking forward to the City bypass and the M17/M18 scheme. But you're completely overlooking the fact that wont fix the pulic transport issues. My life would still be far easier if I could fly to the city directly, even with those bypasses I still have to arrange my own transport if I'm coming over on after work flight. I'd personally benefit far more from a direct flight to Galway and I'm certainly not the only one, so I hope you can understand my enthusiasm for any revival of commercial flights from Galway to the UK.

I agree, at the moment I'm flying for work twice a month and it is really a drag.. The buses to Dublin are jampacked (often sitting next to someone with noisy music or kids) and it's a wasted 6 hours (return) of agony on every trip. Driving is not a great option either and Shannon/Knock don't have suitable flights to mainland Europe.

I really miss the time when I could fly to Dublin. 30 mins and you're there. I totally understand that the 19 euro fares Aer Arann was offering are not possible without govt intervention but I could get away with paying 150 return (which is cheaper than expensing the mileage + tolls / parking if I drive). I could see that being profitable for business flights. It is a big detractor for a frequent business traveller (and I'm not the only one).

Aer Arann / Stobart is doing returns to small airports in the UK from Dublin for 50-70 euro so Galway-Dublin for a decent price should be possible. They don't have government grants on those either.

?Cee?view · 26-05-2015 4:43pm

GekkePrutser wrote: »

I agree, at the moment I'm flying for work twice a month and it is really a drag.. The buses to Dublin are jampacked (often sitting next to someone with noisy music or kids) and it's a wasted 6 hours (return) of agony on every trip. Driving is not a great option either and Shannon/Knock don't have suitable flights to mainland Europe.

I really miss the time when I could fly to Dublin. 30 mins and you're there. I totally understand that the 19 euro fares Aer Arann was offering are not possible without govt intervention but I could get away with paying 150 return (which is cheaper than expensing the mileage + tolls / parking if I drive). I could see that being profitable for business flights. It is a big detractor for a frequent business traveller (and I'm not the only one).

Aer Arann / Stobart is doing returns to small airports in the UK from Dublin for 50-70 euro so Galway-Dublin for a decent price should be possible. They don't have government grants on those either.

While I agree that Shannon and Dublin are relatively accessible, the convenience and cost of a Galway option shouldn't be underestimated, particularly for corporate travel.

I travel to London about twice a month. A car to Shannon is €100 each way, so €50-€70 or even more to Dublin would definitely be attractive particularly as the available flight slots from Dublin are so much more extensive.

serfboard · 26-05-2015 6:23pm

the untitled user wrote: »

And let's not even get started about the public transport connections, if I'm getting an evening flight in I can forget about getting a bus to Galway.

This is true if you're talking about Knock or Shannon, but not Dublin. You can get a bus from Dublin until half-past midnight every night, and I doubt your flights are arriving later than that.

GekkePrutser wrote: »

I could get away with paying 150 return

Maybe you could, but I doubt everyone else could - and certainly not frequently enough to justify a regular scheduled service.

GekkePrutser wrote: »

Aer Arann / Stobart is doing returns to small airports in the UK from Dublin for 50-70 euro so Galway-Dublin for a decent price should be possible. They don't have government grants on those either.

Yes but remember that "small" airports in the UK are serving the likes of Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow - cities with substantially larger populations than Galway. Can you show me a Stobart Air flight that goes to a city in Britian of 70,000 people?

JillyQ · 26-05-2015 6:25pm

?Cee?view wrote: »

While I agree that Shannon and Dublin are relatively accessible, the convenience and cost of a Galway option shouldn't be underestimated, particularly for corporate travel.

I travel to London about twice a month. A car to Shannon is €100 each way, so €50-€70 or even more to Dublin would definitely be attractive particularly as the available flight slots from Dublin are so much more extensive.

I take it your talking about a car & driver?

?Cee?view · 26-05-2015 6:56pm

JillyQ wrote: »

I take it your talking about a car & driver?

Apologies. My post was unclear. Yes, car and driver, effectively a private taxi type set up.

JillyQ · 26-05-2015 8:59pm

?Cee?view wrote: »

Apologies. My post was unclear. Yes, car and driver, effectively a private taxi type set up.

Nice one

Robbo · 12-10-2015 11:22am

Ulick McEvaddy wants to set up a drone hub at the airport on account of our "operator- friendly regulations".

Light touch regulation, the benevolence of the taxpayer, pliant local authorities and "dual-use" technology...it's like playing potential scandal bingo.

Zzippy · 12-10-2015 2:29pm

Robbo wrote: »

Ulick McEvaddy wants to set up a drone hub at the airport on account of our "operator- friendly regulations".

Light touch regulation, the benevolence of the taxpayer, pliant local authorities and "dual-use" technology...it's like playing potential scandal bingo.

You left out "investor-friendly", "low corporate tax" and "jobs-driven". But top marks for your enterprising vision.

flynnlives · 12-10-2015 4:14pm

By "operater friendly" he is referring to Irelands place within the aviation industry. Ireland is actually a world leader in outsourcing and leasing of commercial jets which is a huge industry. Half of all leased aircraft are managed here. Decades of experience.
We also have alot of maintenance of commercial jets here.

And drone technology is actually going to become quite huge.

This is actually a great idea so less of the begrudgery please.

JillyQ · 12-10-2015 4:21pm

flynnlives wrote: »

By "operater friendly" he is referring to Irelands place within the aviation industry. Ireland is actually a world leader in outsourcing and leasing of commercial jets which is a huge industry. Half of all leased aircraft are managed here. Decades of experience.
We also have alot of maintenance of commercial jets here.

And drone technology is actually going to become quite huge.

This is actually a great idea so less of the begrudgery please.

Finally someone is speaking sense about a use for the airport

Dan_Solo · 13-10-2015 9:09am

flynnlives wrote: »

This is actually a great idea so less of the begrudgery please.

So not wanting yet more wads of tax flung at dead donkeys is "begrudgery" now? Any chance they'll set up something that actually makes money instead of burning it?
Beyond that best of luck to them. But it should be an entirely private thing after the millions wasted at GA.

Robbo · 13-10-2015 10:01am

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Beyond that best of luck to them. But it should be an entirely private thing after the millions wasted at GA.

McEvaddy, like his bessie Declan Ganley, is the type of provincial libertarian who thinks that anything other than the taxpayer propping up their entire own particular operation is creeping communism.

But perhaps we're a little off target here, much like a drone at an Afghan wedding.

outsidein98 · 13-10-2015 4:33pm

What are you on about? Do you think they're going to be making military drones?

Commercial use of drones is likely to increase exponentially in the next few years. There's a real opportunity for Ireland to get in on this industry and make it as big as the airliner leasing business is to this country.

Why is there this antagonism to any use of this airport for aviation purposes?

Or do you prefer the fantasy movie studio idea?

Robbo · 13-10-2015 5:24pm

outsidein98 wrote: »

What are you on about? Do you think they're going to be making military drones?

Ulick McEvaddy. Moreover, Ulick McEvaddy. Big privatised war boners right there.

outsidein98 wrote: »

Commercial use of drones is likely to increase exponentially in the next few years. There's a real opportunity for Ireland to get in on this industry and make it as big as the airliner leasing business is to this country.

Perhaps. Or maybe the people involved in the leasing aspects of drones will just stay in the Dublin where all the current aircraft leasing expertise and support services live. And yes, I am aware of GECAS' outlier operation in Shannon.

outsidein98 wrote: »

Why is there this antagonism to any use of this airport for aviation purposes?

Personally, I'd love to see the airport being used as a functioning airport that isn't an inexplicable millstone around the necks of the local authorities. Hell, if they can make the hobbyist market pay, I'll be down there cheering on each Cessna Dentist Killer that pops in for lunch and 300 quid of Avgas.

outsidein98 wrote: »

Or do you prefer the fantasy movie studio idea?

Thank your for your false dichotomy. The film studio is a particularly stupid idea also given that Limerick have stolen a march with Dellywood/Hollywang development. Also, the sheer amount of times Ardmore has teetered on insolvency over the years is testament to the transient nature of that industry.

outsidein98 · 13-10-2015 6:18pm

Glad you agree about the studio idea. People losing the run of themselves there. I don't know why they don't go for the fantasy and suggest building an F1 track. So we can hold the Irish Grand Prix there every year.

Yes the McEvaddys have made some money out of the military market but they know an emerging market when they see one. Military drones are a very specialised market. So we won't be seeing signs around the airport saying 'Use of deadly force authorised' in the new Area 91.

Dublin is not so good for drone testing. Too much complex airspace and built up areas. Galway is ideal. Hence the interest. There is no sensible reason to set up in Dublin. If Galway doesn't snap it up other more progressive regional airports will.

You sneer at the Cessna drivers but by and large isn't it better they spend their €300 in Galway than elsewhere? Plus those private jets that drop in spend a lot of money.

This idea is definitely worth looking at from people with a proven track record of making money. However distasteful some people find them.

Galway Airport - mega merge

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