This article is from page 4 of the 2011-12-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
SHANNON Airport can finally realise its full potential and chart a new future for itself away from Dublin Airport Authority control, as bodies like Shannon Development and Clare County Council and private sector interests step up to manage its affairs.
That’s the view of Shannon Development this week as the regional development agency has welcomed the new vision for the airport’s future that has been recommended to the Government by Booz and Company consultants.
Sources have revealed that developing a ‘Luton Airport model’ with Shannon, whereby it would remain in public ownership, but was operated by a private sector body that also included Shannon Development and Clare County Council.
“Shannon Development is a natural partner,” said Shannon Development chief executive Vincent Cunnane. “This is very much in line with what Shannon Development has recommended has revealed.
“We would be happy with that. We have believed for a long time that separation from the DAA is vital for Shannon to realise its full potential,” he said.
“I think that is the view of the region. I believe you need more competition in the airport sector in Ireland. What works for Dublin and possibly Cork, is not actually working for Shannon,” he added.
Shannon Development played a key role in the running of Shannon up until 1995, concentrating of a marketing and route development role within the airport – a link that current chief executive, Vincent Cunnane has described “some of the its most successful days, certainly its most innovative”.
A potential Clare County Council involvement in Shannon was endorsed in November when councillors gave their unanimous support to a local authority submission calling for public sector bodes to be given a frontline role in managing the airport.
The council said that its involvement would “have a number of distinct advantages in that the public sector authorities have a vested interest in the sustainable development of the region”.
The submission also called for the airport and adjoining landbank to be “vested in the people of the region through the democratically elected local authorities on a long-term basis”.
“The airport would remain in State ownership, through the public sector authorities in the region,” emphasised Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan.
“That could be the local authorities in the region, the local authorities with Shannon Development, it could be the local authorities, Shannon Development and Shannon Foynes port. It’s the public agencies operating in the region,” he added.