Knock airport is poised to play a dominant role in the development of the western region over the next 15 years, it has been claimed.
Launching the airport's Vision 2020 yesterday, chief executive Liam Scollan said the next 15 years would see the development of more than 50 destinations from Knock to all major British and European cities as well as North America.
Charter flights to sun, winter, ski and pilgrim destinations would also be expanded, he said.
In 2020 the number of passengers using Knock will have reached two million annually and will support an annual €200 million in tourism spent on 2.5 million bed nights in the region.
Mr Scollan, who also launched the airport's new rebranded image as Ireland West International Airport Knock, said the airport would support the development of economic clusters in the area and provide a "high quality of life" alternative to the east coast in line with the national spatial strategy.
It was, he said, crucial that national and local government played their part in the vision and if they did, the airport could be sitting on the reopened western rail corridor with excellent east-west and north-south roads.
It would also be well served by the national bus network and high-speed telecommunications would be available to attract industry.
He told guests at the launch and 20th anniversary celebrations in Knock yesterday that the projections were based on sound planning and experience of more than 20 years.
"The combined impacts of our airport are that by the year 2020, we will have served more then 20 million passengers, sustained 2,000 jobs and contributed 25 million bed nights worth €2 billion to the region," he said.
Mr Scollan, a former chief executive of the Western Development Commission, said the region needed "to look beyond the next decade to the next generation" who would be able to bring up their children in the region with security.
"Young people today will be able to rear young families in this region tomorrow because the region is growing in confidence.
"We have set our targets for the next 20 years and we invite everyone in this region to work together for the good of us all."
Mr Scollan added that the airport was last week awarded first place in a competition among 68 European airports served by EasyJet, for the quality of the check-in service.
Knock had also won second place in a category rewarding sales desk service, while the passenger target of 500,000 people for the current year had already been exceeded.
The airport was currently undertaking 18 building projects costing €22 million and was paying for them out of its own resources and borrowing.
Knock is currently served by Loganair; BMi Baby; EasyJet and Ryanair as well as charter flights serving about 25 destinations in Britain and Europe. A Christmas-time destination to Lapland is also planned.
According to airport managers, the number of destinations almost doubles in the summer.
Over the last four years there have been large-scale developments in the airport infrastructure with a new departure area, an upgraded arrivals area, extended catering and restaurant facilities and car parking for 1,200 cars.
Passenger numbers have doubled since 2002 and are set to reach 540,000 by year's end.
Passengers pay an airport tax of €10 for each departure from Knock towards the upkeep and development of the airport, which is privately owned and is held in trust for the people of the west.
