Cork Airport en route to recovery after Covid-19 pandemic
The meeting, hosted by Cork Airport Acting Managing Director Roy O’Driscoll, also discussed the airport’s growth projections for the next number of years.
In his presentation to the committee, Mr O’Driscoll highlighted that state-owned travel retail group daa has invested €40 million in major infrastructural projects at Cork Airport over the past 3 years.
He also said Cork Airport anticipates being the first state airport to reach pre-pandemic passenger numbers.
In 2020, €12 million was invested in a new hold baggage screening system, an investment designed to bring the current baggage screening system up to modern security requirements. In 2021, it undertook the largest and fastest infrastructural project completed in the state in recent times when the main jet-capable runway 16-34 was fully reconstructed and rehabilitated.
The on-time, on-budget reconstruction of the runway was supported by an investment of €10 million by the Department of Transport.
In May, work commenced on the construction of a new electrical substation with an anticipated completion date of April 2023. It’ll replace a currently, near-obsolete substation constructed in the 1960s. The project represents phase 2 of the runway reconstruction which included a full replacement of legacy airfield lighting with modern, energy-efficient LED lighting.
Speaking about the visit Roy O’Driscoll said: “On behalf of Cork Airport, I was very pleased to welcome the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to Cork Airport today. The members were provided with detailed updates on Cork Airport’s performance as the post-pandemic recovery continues along with an outline of growth prospects for the next number of years.”
He added: “Cork Airport is tremendously grateful for the support of the Department of Transport in undertaking some key infrastructural projects, most notably the reconstruction of our main runway. As a valued member of daa Group, Cork Airport will work towards continually improving the choice and variety for passengers across our route network.”