A full seperation of Shannon Airport from the other state airports is among the options recommended in a new report on it’s future operation and ownership.
The Transport Minister will publish the document later today, but a copy obtained by Clare FM has shown that it calls for significant change at Shannon, as well providing stark warnings if this does not occur.
The report by Booz and Company states that Shannon ‘[faces] a significant threat to its future under current ownership arrangements’ and that it’s viability cannot be justified through passenger growth only.
Two options for the future operation of Shannon and Cork are recommended. The first would see independent boards appointed to Shannon, Cork and Dublin and that all three would report to a newly established state owned holding company.
The second, more radical approach would see Cork and Dublin Airports run in this way, but would separate out ownership and operation of Shannon Airport under a local concession model. This holding entity would consist of councils in Clare and Limerick as well as Shannon Development, and other commercial interests and public bodies.
Under this scenario, Booz warn that the government would need to consider mechanisms for ongoing financial support, but says this could be done by integrating the airport with the Shannon Free Zone.
The report, much of which is redacted, also recommends that more flexible working arrangements be implemented at Shannon, in line with daily and seasonal traffic flows but there are some positives, with Booz acknowledging that Clare’s international airport ‘is widely viewed as having the opportunity to transform itself into a major cargo hub in Europe, especially if cargo pre-clearance with the US is secured.
The document will be published later, and Minister Varadkar is expected to make a decision on the future for Shannon and Cork by Easter.
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