Cork’s runway open again
Cork Airport’s runway is clear for landing once again.
The runway reconstruction project was completed on schedule and within budget in a 10 week construction period and was officially opened this week by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
He was joined by Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport and senior cabinet members along with civic and business leaders to witness the result of the single biggest investment by any government at Cork Airport to reconstruct a key strategic asset for Cork and the south of Ireland for the next 20 years.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “It is my great privilege to officially reopen the newly reconstructed Cork Airport runway and mark the successful delivery of the ten week reconstruction project. This project future-proofs a critically important strategic asset for Cork, the south-west region, and for Ireland for many years to come.
“The investment by the Government of €10 million in this project will ensure continued, essential, connectivity - connecting people and places, families and friends, economies and businesses; with enormous benefits for the city, the wider region and for the country.”
Over 430 were employed in construction and supply jobs during the rebuilding of the main runway as well as the upgrading of the airport's approach, airfield and ground lighting, runway edge and centreline lighting together with all its drainage and ducting systems.
In total, daa is investing over €40 million at Cork Airport over a three year period between 2020 and 2022 to upgrade and enhance critical infrastructure to get ready for strong growth to take off from the end of November into 2022 and beyond.
As part of this capital programme, Cork Airport is also investing in the construction of a new electrical sub-station for the airport early next year.
Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport said: “Cork Airport is a key strategic national asset and all of us here today know the key role Cork Airport plays locally and nationally. Before the arrival of Covid-19 to our shores, Cork Airport was on a strong growth trajectory with over 2.6 million passengers recorded in 2019.
“It has been connecting people, places, families and businesses for the last 60 years. The whole team here have been unwavering in their focus on recovery and building a successful future for Cork Airport.”
She added: “This is clearly seen in the return of airlines and services to the airport along with new services such as the new weekly service to Geneva this winter operated by Swiss International Air Lines. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will double its daily service between Cork and Amsterdam Schiphol from next week,” she said.
“I also welcome Ryanair’s announcement of a €200m investment in Cork Airport and a full recovery of its pre-pandemic passenger capacity with the reopening of its two aircraft base.”
“Government will continue to support Cork as it continues on its road to recovery from Covid-19. I hope to announce funding for Cork Airport as part of the Regional Airport Programme in the coming weeks. Our continued investment in Cork Airport demonstrates the confidence that I as Minister, and Government as a whole, have in the future growth of the airport and the region it serves,” she concluded.
The Managing Director at Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy said: “The massive runway reconstruction project was completed on schedule and within budget in a 10 week construction period, during which the airport made the brave decision to close completely to undertake the reconstruction works and be delivered in a quicker time, in a safer environment and with less long-term impacts on airlines and passengers than an alternative of night time closures next year over a 10 month period next year.”