Ireland West Airport has welcomed the announcement of the appointment of the airport's managing director, Joe Gilmore, to the newly formed Taskforce for Aviation Recovery.
The Government formed expert taskforce is to examine and make recommendations to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross on what needs to be done to get Irish aviation back up again and working as a driver of economic recovery.
The taskforce, comprising industry leaders, will be chaired by Chris Horn, venture partner at Atlantic Bridge, and is charged with advising on a framework for promoting the return of aviation connectivity and aviation enterprises that are critical to supporting the wider economic recovery.
The focus is on the immediate action required and further measures with a five year outlook. It will prepare an aviation recovery action plan setting out recommendations for consideration by Government as appropriate. The action plan should be concluded and submitted by July 10.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr Gilmore said: "These are unprecedented times for the aviation and tourism industry and in particular airports which are facing into a prolonged period of reduced flight services and passenger demand, combined with a major decline in commercial income.
"Supporting and sustaining critical air access into regional Ireland now more than ever is of major importance as a driver for the recovery of the regional economy, and I am looking forward to working with industry colleagues in shaping a recovery plan for the aviation sector in Ireland."
