14 jobs to go at airport

14 jobs go at Knock Airport


Anton McNulty

THE DOWNTURN in the aviation industry has hit Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), with the announcement that 14 members of staff are being made redundant.
Yesterday (Monday), a statement released by the airport confirmed the redundancies, which are believed to affect baggage handlers and office staff. The news of the job losses is a blow to the Airport but is reflective of the crisis facing the aviation industry at the moment following the announcement that the former national carrier, Aer Lingus, is seeking 1,500 redundancies.
In the statement, the Airport said it continued to employ more than 100 staff and staffing levels were based on the requirements needed to manage the winter flight schedule.
“In light of the current economic outlook and the uncertainty in the aviation industry, the Airport has carried out a review of its staffing requirements. The Airport’s activity is seasonal, with an increase in passengers and flights in the summer. The Airport’s staffing levels for this winter season have been based on the requirements needed to manage the winter flight schedule with a continued focus on efficiency and service. Regrettably, this will result in up to 14 staff being made redundant. The Airport continues to employ more than 100 staff directly and remains focused on increasing services to the region,” the statement said.
Colm Keavaney, a spokesperson for SIPTU in Mayo, said the union was working alongside the Airport’s management but added there was no guarantee that there would be no further job losses.
“IWAK are not immune to the current economic downturn and jobs are being lost at the Airport as a consequence of a number of variables that are outside the control of the Airport. This is a day-to-day situation and it is a very unforeseen market with passenger numbers falling dramatically and in that context they are finding it challenging to operate in this environment.
“It is quite possible that there could be more redundancies and an airport like this will be the litmus test of this economy. It is clearly being said to us that at this stage there can be no guarantees that the future viability of the Airport can remain as it is, so there can be no guarantees of any jobs at IWAK. We are co-operating with the management to try to achieve those savings to make the airport viable,” he said.
Charlestown-based councillor, Gerry Murray, said he knows some of the people who were made redundant but added they were hopeful that the Airport will bounce back in the New Year.
The news came in the wake of CSO figures which revealed that there has been a 46 per cent increase in the numbers signing on the live register over the last 12 months. The numbers increased from 4,838 in September 2007 to 7,101 last month, but there was a fall of 346 people signing on the live register in August.
Meanwhile, there was better news for the Airport when it was announced that daily flights from IWAK to Liverpool with Ryanair will commence on Monday, October 27.