With over 600,000 passengers passing through its terminal in 2009, a €27 million expansion plan in train, and plans afoot to increase public transport links and improve the road network, the future looks bright for Ireland West Airport Knock.
Ireland West Airport Knock now serves more than 20 scheduled and charter destinations across Ireland, the UK, and Europe.
Despite the difficult economic environment, 2009 has been one of the most exciting years in the history of the airport as it continues to develop its facilities and services with a number of highlights including the implementation of a new Instrument Landing System. The major benefit of the new landing system has been to radically improve the airport’s reliability with aircraft now able to land in low cloud conditions, massively reducing by 98 per cent the possibility of diversions and almost putting the airport on a par with Cork, Shannon, Dublin and other international airports.
Another important development is the integration of a new fully automated ‘real-time’ flight arrival and departure information system, which enables passengers and greeters to view same-day travel updates for more than 20 flight destinations, both in the terminal and online at www.irelandwestairport.com
October 2009 saw the airport celebrate the opening of its brand new terminal which provides the capability for the airport to handle 1.5m passengers. The new terminal is designed to expand, improve, and modernise Ireland West Airport Knock for passengers travelling in the 21st century.
2009 also saw Aer Lingus came back into the airport after an absence of 10 years with the commencement of a new daily scheduled service to London Gatwick which started in April 2009.
Joe Gilmore, managing director, Ireland West Knock commented: “Despite the tough economic conditions, more than 600,000 passengers used the airport in 2009 which is almost on a par with 2008 figures. This is a huge vote of confidence in Ireland West Knock as a key access point to the UK and Europe for people in the West, North West, and Midlands regions of Ireland.”
With two new routes already added for 2010 (twice weekly service with Ryanair to Leeds-Bradford starting March 25 and a new twice weekly scheduled service with Ryanair to Faro in the Algarve also starting March 25 ), this promises to be an exciting year for Ireland West Airport Knock.
