Media Archive

Press Release  

Monday, September 6^th  2010

Mayor of Galway City visits Galway Airport

The newly elected Galway City Mayor Cllr. Michael Crowe visited Galway Airport last week to see for himself first hand the workings of the airport facility.

He was welcomed by Michael Corless, Chairman and Joe Walsh, Managing Director, of Galway Airport and was presented with some key airport statistics and the key role the airport currently plays in the business community. For example in a recent Galway Airport / Galway Chamber of Commerce business survey 82% of companies said that air access via Galway Airport and its associated onward connectivity was ‘Essential'  to ‘Important' to their businesses and their markets. Also on the Galway to Dublin route over 40% of passengers are connecting onwards and inwards from Dublin to and from destinations like Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Zurich. The airport is also playing a key part in terms of Inbound business and leisure tourism where a high proportion of bed night stays benefit the local economy in terms of its Hotels and hospitality sectors.

After his meeting the Mayor was then taken on a ‘guided tour' of the complete airport facility meeting with all key staff in areas like Passenger Check-In, Passenger Security Screening, Bar & Cafe & Retail facilities, Rescue & Fire Fighting staff, Ramp Operations, staff from the car hire companies and finally Air Traffic Control.

During his tour he also visited Aer Arann's aircraft maintenance / engineering facility which operate 24/7 in support of the Aer Arann fleet.

Mayor Crowe said after completing his visit that "it is only when you visit Galway Airport like I did today, that you realise how important the airport site is in terms of it's diverse range of activities and more importantly that the airport site directly employs circa 180 people. When you travel through the airport as a passenger, little do you know how many people are involved ‘behind the scenes' in getting you on to your flight and safely onward to your final destination"

Mayor Crowe also said that he was "delighted to be able to meet with the airports' management team and staff and that it is vital that the business community and the wider general public are aware of what goes on here and to support this key facility in every way that they possibly can".

Michael Corless, Chairman of the Board of Galway Airport said "on behalf of the Board of Galway Airport, the staff and management team I am delighted that the City Mayor made it his business to come and visit the airport so that he could get a first hand understanding of how the airport operates and in so doing he will be better placed to assist us in our strategy to maintain, grow and develop this strategically important facility for the people and businesses of Galway and the wider region"

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• 40,000 people employed in City (nearly half of these commute)
• Galway Airport has met with Employers representing 15,000 employees
• 43% of businesses recently surveyed confirmed the airport as being ‘Essential to Important' in their setting up in the City and Galway region
• 55% of airports' Dublin traffic is business related
• The tourism impact of the airport on the region is estimated at €19m
• Passenger surveys show that 78% of all Dublin traffic is connecting inwards and outwards

For further information contact:

Michael Moloney, Marketing Manager, Galway Airport @ 086-6004288