THE DIRECTOR of Shannon airport, Martin Moroney said yesterday that the airport is “substantially loss-making” and is in a fight for survival.
Addressing members of the Midwest Regional Authority in Ennis, Mr Moroney also confirmed that the airport is taking legal action against Ryanair for “failing miserably” to reach targets in its five-year deal with the airport.
Mr Moroney told members that the airport “is substantially loss- making and there is no future for the airport if that remains the same. We have to put in place a profitable airport that is viable and has sustainable growth in traffic”.
The airport director said that “fighting for survival is the name of the game for so many businesses in the country and Shannon is no different”.
Mr Moroney said: “Shannon is not in terminal decline”, adding that “talk of grass growing and tumbleweed on the runway is ridiculous and is very damaging”. He was standing in for airport chairman, Brian O’Connell following his late withdrawal from his scheduled appearance due to illness.
Mr Moroney said that “it is very, very difficult for the airport to be operating in such negativity.”
He said that in the five-year deal with Ryanair, the airline was contractually bound to deliver two million passengers in year five.
