Cork Airport welcomes today’s publication of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks report on the Aviation Industry in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the plans for recovery.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport said: “We are working our way through the contents of the report but particularly welcome the recommendations on the acceleration of validation studies on rapid, low-cost, scalable pre-departure testing and in particular rapid antigen testing.”

“We are already planning for the recovery of aviation which may take three to four years but we anticipate will start in March/April 2021. In this context, and the ability to rebound, to create connectivity and to rebuild routes for business and tourism, we very strongly welcome the recommendation that Cork Airport be admitted to the 2020 to 2025 Regional Airports funding programmes for both Capital and Operating Expenditure.” 

“The team at Cork Airport strongly welcomes the hard work of the Committee in meeting so many representatives of aviation and travel including ourselves and our parent group daa to hear the needs and plans of the aviation sector to recommence growth and to assist in the rebuild of the Irish economy post COVID. On that basis, we welcome the report and particularly endorse the recommendation that the airport charges rebate scheme be extended to September 2021 or perhaps even further. This will allow airports and airlines the economic space to plan the reintroduction of routes for summer 2021 and kick start the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industries.”

“We will study the Committee’s 48-page report and its 20 key recommendations and we will continue to work with elected representatives and other key stakeholders to ensure we play our part in the recovery of the South of Ireland economy and its connectivity post-COVID.”