Galway passengers who fly out of Ireland West Airport at Knock are fuming that they still have to pay a €10 development charge despite the county’s two local authorities pumping in around €100,000 into the facility over the past couple of years.
Now, outgoing Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council wants this charge terminated for good in view of the amount of money that has been contributed to the airport from both Galway County Council and Galway City Council.
Cllr Pete Roche said that the development charge had become something of a joke at Knock Airport and was one that had infuriated passengers to such an extent that they were now considering Shannon as an alternative to fly out from.
“We are all in favour of regional airports and we want them to survive, but to impose this so-called development levy has gone beyond a joke at this stage. It just should not be in place.
“As far as I am aware there are six local authorities including Galway City Council and Galway County Council who have made substantial contributions to Knock Airport who still insist on imposing this charge on passengers before boarding. The public are sick to their teeth of it,” Cllr Roche added.
Every passenger who boards a plane in Ireland West Airport is obliged to fork out €10 per head. A family of two parents and four children, for example, heading out for a holiday in the sun are down €60 before they even step onto the plane.
Cllr Roche said the levy leaves a sour taste amongst passengers and it has become an increasing discussion point on plane journeys from Knock.
Ireland West Airport claims to be responsible for 200,000 bed nights annually in County Galway alone with the city, Connemara and the Aran Islands the main beneficiaries.
Management said, during a presentation to Galway County Council two years ago, that almost a quarter of their business comes from County Galway and equally they contribute significantly to the tourism industry here. The airport employs more than 300 people directly and indirectly.
But Cllr Roche said that while the airport at Knock was a huge asset for the West of Ireland and he did not want to see anything threaten its future, the charging of a €10 development levy rankled with passengers flying out from there.
He said that the least the management of the airport could do was to waive the €10 for passengers coming from local authority areas who have made a financial contribution to the facility.
When the presentation regarding Ireland West Airport was made to Galway County Councillors, Airport representative Donal Heaney said that he wanted Galway County Council to invest in the future of the airport and share in the profits in the future.
There were complaints from a number of councillors including Cllr Roche, Martina Kinane, Jim Cuddy and Eileen Mannion about the €10 development charge.
Mr. Heaney said that it was a necessary charge and one that was imposed in privately run airports in England and across Europe.
The post Call for abolition of Knock Airport €10 levy appeared first on Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune.