ONE MORE THING:A JOINT communication from the Ennis, Limerick and Shannon chambers of commerce about the separation of Shannon Airport signals the first step in what will probably be a turbo-charged effort by the midwest lobby to push this matter through by the year end.
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has announced plans to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority on a debt-free basis and put it together with the landbank of Shannon Development, which is being dismantled, into a new standalone commercial semi-State.
The idea is to create a hub in the region for a variety of aviation-related activities.
As a minimum the chambers would like the airport to be separated from the DAA by the year-end and the appointment of a new board this month that could begin negotiating with airlines on route development.
It’s a tough ask give that the two task forces set up to advise the Government will submit their reports only in November.
They’re right to push for it, though. Traffic at Shannon has halved over the past five years. It needs to break out of its current holding pattern. Over to you, Minister.
