Passenger figures at Waterford Airport up 46% compared to first half of 2007

Waterford Airport has experienced a dramatic 46 per cent increase in the number of passengers flying in and out during the first half of 2008 compared to the same period last year.

It looks set to be a record-breaking year for the regional airport which serves the southeast with scheduled flights to and from London Luton; Birmingham; Manchester; Lorient; Bordeaux; Faro; Malaga; Amsterdam and Galway.

In the first six months of 2008, 63,000 passengers travelled on scheduled services through Waterford Airport, up from 43,000 passengers in the same period of 2007.

Welcoming the passenger figures, Nicky Fewer, Chairman, Waterford Airport said: “The significant increase again underlines the strong demand that exists in Waterford and the southeast for convenient air travel offering easy access to the UK and Europe as well as to onward travel destinations via Manchester and Amsterdam in particular.

“The strong passenger demand reinforces our determination to continue working with airlines to roll out new routes and services that we feel will perform well in this market. We are also receiving support from those responsible for marketing the southeast to potential overseas visitors and the airport is increasingly recognised as a very valuable access point for inbound tourists looking to arrive in the heart of the southeast with the minimum of stress and delay.”

Graham Doyle, Chief Executive, Waterford Airport added: “The increased passenger numbers endorse what we’re doing in developing Waterford Airport and have very positive spin-offs on a regional economic level.

“Our accessibility will also improve further shortly with the reopening of the upgraded road connecting us to Waterford city and the Outer Ring Road. With road access to and within Waterford improving all the time, we are noticing a welcome upturn in the number of passengers using the airport from our natural hinterland counties of Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow”.

“We continue to build awareness throughout the southeast about our various routes and progress in this regard is reflected in the numbers we’re achieving.”

Mr Doyle also confirmed that preparatory work and planning is progressing on the airport’s capital development programme which is to see €27.7 million invested by the end of 2010, including €22.3 million allocated under the Department of Transport’s Capital Expenditure Grant Scheme under Transport 21.

July 2008