daa is investing over €40 million in 3 major projects over 3 years; a new Hold Baggage Screening System, a new electrical Substation and the rebuilding of the only jet-capable runway, in a major vote of confidence in the future of Cork Airport.

Given the low volumes predicted for this year (c200,000 passengers) versus the much higher volumes predicted at Cork Airport next year (over 1.5million passengers), we are progressing two of these operationally significant and major capital investment projects this year to get them completed with the minimum of disruption. The €12 million upgrade of our hold baggage security screening system is nearing completion and will be commissioned this month. Then the largest construction project to be undertaken since the building of the new terminal and ancillary buildings in 2005 and 2006, will be the reconstruction of our main runway which will be completed over a short 10-week off-peak period from September 13 - November 22.

We will be open all Summer, for whatever flights operating and we will then complete the runway project over a short 10-week off-peak period, allowing us to reopen for what we expect to be a busy Christmas and a bumper 2022.

This will be the fastest large-scale construction project in the country in recent years. It will be completed in 12 months from initial funding approval to the completion of the main works through an extensive EU tendering, design, regulatory approvals and construction programme.

We have completed a very extensive round of stakeholder engagement from Government Ministers to TDs, MEPs, Chambers of Commerce, business associations, hotel federations, ITIC, tourism organisations, airlines, handlers, concessionaires, state services and many more relevant bodies to explain the business rationale in support of the full closure option.

Since the end of May, we have commenced a programme of nightly geotechnical surveys, to validate the construction conditions and are now ready to award and progress to construction and completion.

The alternative was to do these works later next year at night over 9 months, but this would have affected much more passengers, flights and impacted significantly on our airline customers operations. The reconstruction works will extend the life of the runway and ancillary infrastructure by 15-20 years and position Cork Airport for recovery and future growth as we build back better.

For further details on the Background, Scope and Approach to the Reconstruction of the Runway at Cork Airport, click here.