Knock numbers up, despite foggy issues

Knock numbers up, despite foggy issues


Áine Ryan

LAST YEAR was Ireland West Airport Knock’s (IWAK) busiest year to date, despite the fact that adverse weather conditions – particularly fog – still cause significant disruptions for passengers. Over the weekend, as it was announced that traffic was up a whopping 13 per cent during 2008, a number of flights were either cancelled or diverted to Shannon due to foggy conditions. Passengers flying to and from Stansted were bussed to and from Shannon on Sunday while a flight from Knock to Birmingham was cancelled. The Aer Arann flight to Dublin was also cancelled yesterday (Monday) morning.
However, the good news is that the new terminal extension and €3.6 million CAT II Instrument Landing System and Runway Safety projects are due to be completed in spring 2009. The new €5.5 million terminal extension is also set to be completed by March of this year, doubling the existing check-in area, security screening and departures lounges while offering new retail, catering and other facilities for passengers.
In 2008, passenger numbers increased by over 73,000 to 629,000, while it is predicted that – notwithstanding the economic downturn –  business will be good due to the expanded network of ten scheduled destinations in the UK and Ireland. This will be further bolstered by the introduction of new charter holiday operators.
The expanded schedule will include the introduction by Aer Lingus of a London Gatwick service commencing in April 2009 as well as the provision of flights by tour operators, Panorama and Sunworld, to Faro, Portugal, during the summer.
Acknowledging the economic challenges to the aviation industry, Mr Robert Grealis, the Chief  Executive, said IWAK is committed ‘to continuing to strive for growth whilst remaining focused on overcoming the difficult economic conditions we face in 2009’.
“As the international gateway for the west and north west, the Airport will support an estimated regional tourism spend of €70 million stemming from our UK tourist traffic in 2009,” said Mr Grealis.