Showing posts with label Knock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knock. Show all posts

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Dublin Airport - Passenger numbers increased last year

A total of 36.5 million passengers passed through the main Irish airports last year, an increase of 6.1% over the previous year.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that passenger numbers increased last year in Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock and Shannon airports.

But passenger numbers decreased in airports in Connemara in Galway and Inishmore in Donegal.

The CSO said the five main airports accounted for 99.8% of all air passenger numbers, while Dublin airport accounted for 85.6% of all air passengers carried in 2018.

Meanwhile, over 8.4 million passengers passed through the main Irish airports in the fourth quarter of last year, an increase of 6.9% over the same time in 2017.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Knock Airport - Funding

Ireland West Airport Knock welcomes todays announcement of funding of 598,349 to Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) under the Public Policy Remit Core Airport Management Operational and Expenditure Subvention (PPR-O) for 2015.

The Programme provides for Exchequer support to cover the significant costs associated with safety and security related projects/activities.

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of the Airport welcomed todays announcement and said ‘. ‘We wish to thank the Taoiseach, Ministers and local representatives for their support for the airport in 2015. The Airport has proven it’s capability in developing an impressive international route network with major international airlines serving over 22 destinations in the UK and Europe and expect to grow passenger numbers to over 700,000 passengers in 2016. We look forward to continuing to work with Government on a long term commitment & investment to support the Airport’s growth and development plans’

AirPark.ie

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Airport - Boarding Cards

Airports - Passengers not obliged to show boarding cards in airport shops. Industry sources warn prices may rise if boarding cards are not shown

Retailers operating in Dubin Airport have said consumers do not have to show boarding passes when making purchases but sources say a widespread failure to produce them would ultimately lead to prices rising.

WH Smith, which operates several concessions in the airport, said boarding passes “were requested from customers and not demanded” and there was no obligation on the part of consumers to comply with the request.

Similarly the DAA, the company that manages the shops at Dublin and Cork airports, said it asked all customers for boarding passes but would only insist they were produced when customers were attempting to buy duty-free products such as tobacco and alcohol.

A DAA spokesman said passengers were routinely asked for boarding cards and if they refused, they were asked to supply an end destination. If they refused to provide this, the sale could still be processed as long as the products were not in the duty-free category.

The retailers were responding as a controversy grows in the UK over reports that many retailers who operate in international airports are maximising their profits by scanning boarding passes and using the information to claim VAT back from passengers who travel outside of the EU while refusing to pass rebates back to customers.

Under EU law retailers can claim back VAT on sales to those leaving the EU but they have to process boarding cards in order to claim it.

Around 20 per cent of passengers who fly through Dublin Airport are travelling to destinations outside the EU. However with the exception of duty-free areas, the savings are not passed directly on to them.

Airport sources in Ireland said that if this consumer movement gathered momentum in the Republic than prices would inevitably climb.

“If a large number of VAT rebates could not be processed then that would hit retailers profits and their ability to pass on savings to consumers. So ultimately it would see charges rise for all passengers.”

The DAA said shops run by its subsidiary Aer Rianta International (ARI) “offer a single price to all customers across many product categories, whether they are travelling to a duty paid or to a duty-free destination. In this way, we pass on VAT savings for duty-free passengers to all of our customers.”

It said it had two separate prices for alcohol products – duty paid and duty free – and also sells premium liquor brands at a reduced, fixed price for travellers to all destinations. It claimed that prices on many product ranges were as much as 20 per cent below those charged in non-airport shops.

“Boarding cards are scanned by ARI for a number of reasons. These include checking whether a passenger is travelling to a duty-free or duty-paid destination and understanding passenger spending patterns,” it said. “We use this information in conjunction with other market research to improve the retail offer in our stores, and to help plan staffing levels.”

When contacted by The Irish Times WH Smith said that boarding passes were requested from passengers but not demanded. “Any [VAT] relief obtained is reflected in our single price and extensive promotional offers provided to all of our customers,” it said. “Operational and financial system constraints make any form of ‘dual pricing’ for our extensive product file a practical impossibility.”

Meanwhile, the Competition and Consumers Protection Commission has urged retailers operating in Irish airports “to be very clear with their customers as to the circumstances where they collect VAT on behalf of the State or where VAT is not charged”.

A spokeswoman also said “consumers should also be advised of the reasons why boarding cards are requested when making purchases in Irish airports. This information will allow consumers to make an informed decision and decide if they wish to make purchases from the retailers operating in Irish airports.”


Irish Times
Airpark.ie

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Knock Airport - USA to Knock

KNOCK - Both Aer Lingus and Ireland West Airport have said talks are ongoing to introduce scheduled transatlantic pilgrimage flights from New York and Boston in the future.

The announcement was made following the arrival of the first chartered transatlantic pilgrimage flight by Aer Lingus to Knock earlier today.

The plane flying from New York's JFK Airport arrived shortly after 7.30am, nearly 30 minutes earlier than expected, with 178 pilgrims on board led by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Aer Lingus Chief Executive Stephen Kavanagh were among the welcoming party at the Co Mayo airport.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Knock Airport - Mayo is a wild escape

KNOCK - Stephen Mangans Mayo is a wild escape from London.The English actor and comedian describes his family ties with Erris which this weekend will officially receive its Irish Times award as “The Best Place to go Wild in Ireland” 
I spent most of my childhood summers and several of my Christmases in Erris. My parents came from two villages there, Geesala and Doohoma, across the water from Achill Island. In their teens they followed a well-worn passage to London to look for work.
Though I was born in London I see myself as both Irish and English, and am proud to be from Mayo and not just a suburb of north London.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Knock Airport - Councillors back IWAK

Leitrims County Councillors have backed a proposal, in principal, for investing in the future development of Ireland West Airport Knock as part of a Local Authority regional partnership.
At Monday’s Council meeting, Joe Gilmore, Airport CEO, gave a special presentation outlining plans to drive tourism and economic development in the West of Ireland over the next 10 years.

At the moment the airport is owned by a Trust and held for the people of the region. It has shown consistent growth in passenger numbers achieving 700.000 passengers this year, but Mr Gilmore said they aim to increase this to 1.3m passengers by 2023.
For Co Leitrim, Ireland West Airport generates 26,000 bed nights annually with 11% of overseas visitors coming into the airport travelling to the county.

Knock Airport - Aug 14 Busiest Month

IRELANDS WEST KNOCK Airport said today it recorded its busiest month ever with a total of 102,774 passengers passing through the terminal in August.
This is the first time in the airport’s 28 year history that more than 100,0000 people have used it in a calendar month.

The August landmark follows record numbers in July – an 18% increase on the previous year.

August traffic to and from the UK was up 21% on August 2013, while passenger traffic to and from mainland and continental Europe increased by 16%. The airport’s main airline partners, Flybe, Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Germanwings showed an increase in passenger numbers and record load factors compared to last August.

The airport said it is now on track to have its busiest year yet, expecting passenger numbers to reach 700,000 for the first time.

“It’s a very proud milestone to reach 100,000 passengers in a month and milestones like this demonstrate that passengers are increasingly choosing the convenience of flying from their regional airport when the flights and holidays they want become available and also for those overseas visitors who want to fly directly into the heart of the West of Ireland,” commented Managing Director of the airport, Joe Gilmore.

The Journal

Airport Parking Ireland

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Knock Airport - 100K Passengers in August

Knock airport is on course for its best ever year after a total of 102,774 passengers passed through the terminal in August.

The figures make August the busiest month in the airport's 28-year history - marking the first time over 100,000 passengers have travelled through it in a calendar month.

Ireland West is also now on track to record its busiest year on record - with passenger numbers expected to reach 700,000 for the first time.

The Airport serves 25 International destinations and is used by four of Europe's biggest airlines - Flybe, Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Germanwings, all of whom have shown an increase in passenger numbers and record load factors compared to August 2013, the airport says.

The August figures represent a 20pc increase on passenger numbers in August 2013.

The airport has been growing in importance as a Western gateway for the Wild Atlantic Way this year, as well as the West and North West of Ireland, with passenger traffic to/from mainland and continental Europe up by 16pc.

So far this year, Ireland West has announced new Ryanair services to Glasgow, Eindhoven and Kaunas (Latvia), as well as a new Germanwings service to Cologne.

Increased capacity mean it will also offer 20,000 extra seats to London this winter.

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director Ireland West Airport, said:
“It’s a very proud milestone to reach 100,000 passengers in a month and milestones like this demonstrate that passengers are increasingly choosing the convenience of flying from their regional airport when the flights and holidays they want become available, and also for those overseas visitors who want to fly directly into the heart of the West of Ireland."

Airport Parking Ireland

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Knock Airport - Misinformation challenged

The suggestion that government subsidies to regional airports should cease has been heavily criticised by a Mayo TD who claimed that ‘misinformation’ in the national media is damaging the reputation of Knock Airport.
Fine Gael TD, John O’Mahony was responding to comments made in an Irish Times article by University of Limerick economist, Jim Deegan, who called for the government to stop subsidising loss-making regional airports while calling on Shannon Airport to be designated as the airport for the Wild Atlantic Way. Mr Deegan, who is also director of the National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies, claimed that regional airports like Knock were loss making and the capital and operating cost grants received by these businesses confer ‘an unfair advantage on them relative to Shannon, Cork and Dublin airports’.
The arguments laid out by Mr Deegan were made in a paper prepared by him for the Shannon Airport Marketing Consultative Committee. “Any comparison of our airports should be fair and reasonable,” said Deputy O’Mahony. The article singles out certain small airports, but in reality, any discussion on loss making airports should also include Shannon and Cork airports. We also need to get a bit of perspective here. In 2012 Shannon had annual losses of circa €8 million whilst in the same year Cork Airport showed losses of circa €10 to 12 million. By comparison, in 2013 Knock Airport reported losses of €500,000 in 2013.
“The Irish Times alleges that €2.2 million of the €5.7 million in State airport subsidies went towards covering losses at Kerry, Knock and Waterford. It is important to note that of this figure, Knock Airport received core operational support of approximately €500,000 which equates to just 22 per cent of total operational support claimed by regional airports. Knock had a throughput of 665,000 passengers in 2013 which is more than the other three regional airports of Kerry, Waterford, Donegal combined,” he said.

Airport Parking Ireland

Knock Airport - Council Financial Support

Mayo County Council this week agreed in principle to make a financial contribution to Ireland West Airport Knock, following a presentation by the airport’s managing director Joe Gilmore to the July meeting of the council.

The airport management are currently on a tour of seven local authorities in the region, speaking to councils to try and to them to give financial support to the airport to ensure its future and allow it to grow.

There was unanimous support from the councillors for the idea although the exact figure that the airport will require is not known at present, they were told. There were also hard hitting words from Fianna Fáil Cllr Al McDonnell who said: “When we met in January 2013 in an emergency meeting about the airport, I was confident that the new committee set up by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny would come up with a plan for the airport”. He went on to say: “I didn’t anticipate that you would be back here today begging for money and the Government would be able to find €100 million for Shannon Airport and they can’t find €8 million for Knock.”

Monday, May 26, 2014

Knock Airport - More Passengers

Ryanair now has more routes and expects to carry more passengers than ever before from Ireland West Airport Knock.

The airline revealed it will fly to 16 destinations and carry 580,000 passengers from the airport this year, increasing its passenger numbers from Knock by 11 per cent.

Ireland West Airport Knock and Ryanair launched the airline’s summer and winter schedules in Galway Bay Hotel last week.
Speaking at the event, Ryanair’s head of sales and marketing, Peter Bellew, said the airline was celebrating “record growth” at Ireland West Airport Knock.

He pointed to three new services introduced in 2014 from the airport, flying to Glasgow, Scotland; Kaunas, Lithuania; and Eindhoven, Netherlands.

“Additional frequencies on two London routes will deliver over 80,000 additional passengers making 2014 Ryanair’s busiest year ever at the airport,” added Mr Bellew.

Capacity on the London routes, to Luton and Stansted, has increased by 20 per cent with 50,000 new seats in 2014 and more choice and day return options for passengers.

Managing director at Ireland West Airport Knock, Joe Gilmore, said Galway is now a “key market” for the Mayo airport. He said some 75,000 passengers from the Galway region are using the airport annually and a further 100,000 plus visitors from overseas are using the airport to visit the Galway region.

“We thank Ryanair for their continued confidence and support for the airport and the west of Ireland over the last 28 years and, furthermore, as the main international western gateway for the Wild Atlantic Way, we would hope tourism providers in the Galway region benefit significantly from these new and additional services to ensure they are a success and are maintained for the longer term.”

Mayo Advitiser

Airport Parking Ireland

Friday, April 25, 2014

Knock Airport - Board Appointments

Ireland West Airport Knock, to give its full name, has beefed up its board with three new appointments.

New York lawyer Brian O'Dwyer is among the additions. The senior partner at O'Dwyer & Bernstein, he is a strong advocate of immigrant rights in the United States. As part of a delegation, he worked closely with President Bill Clinton and the White House during the peace process.

Knock airport has also appointed Pat Gallagher to the board. He's the manufacturing director for Europe, Middle-East and Africa at Baxter Healthcare. Based in Castlebar, Co Mayo, he has been a campaigner for better infrastructure in the west, northwest and midlands regions.

The third new appointment at Knock airport is John Molloy, managing director of Aircraft Consultancy and Equipment Sales (ACES)

Irish Independent

Airport Parking Ireland

Monday, April 7, 2014

Knock Airport - New Services

Ireland West Airport Knock are delighted to launch three new services to Eindhoven, Glasgow and Kaunas with Ryanair today. Todays launch represents yet another significant milestone for the airport and western region as it provides the first ever scheduled direct air access to the Dutch and Lithuanian market.  It also opens up access to the Benelux region of Europe, which has a population of over 28m people with the new Eindhoven service providing convenient access to the likes of Belgium and Luxembourg also.
Donal Healy, Marketing Manager, Ireland West Airport Knock and Maria Macken, Marketing Manager, Ryanair, launch Ryanairs three new services from the airport
The New services are expected to bring a major tourist boost to the West and North West of Ireland with over 15,000 new tourists expected to come to the region. The likes of the Western Greenway and the many cycling, walking and climbing routes in the West and North West are expected to be hugely popular with the Dutch tourists in particular who are renowned for their interest in the outdoors and coastal landscapes. In a further welcome initiative, passengers on our new Glasgow service can avail of free rail travel from Glasgow Prestwick to any destination in Scotland up until November 2014.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Knock Airport - Carpark Charges

THE reality is that Ireland West Airport Knock is surviving on its carpark charges.
That is the stark picture painted by Charlestown Cllr Gerry Murray at yesterday’s county council meeting where Knock airport’s future was hotly debated.
“If the Government can find €86 million for men in suits that created another quango [Irish Water], surely to god they can find €100 million for Knock Airport,” argued Cllr Murray.
He was speaking in the context of the recent study group report, published in December, on the airport. Chaired by Deputy John O’Mahony, the study groups key recommendation that Exchequer funding be extended to regional airports for another ten years has already been accepted by the Government.
Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Al McDonnell – who lobbied for the subject of the airport to be included on the agenda – has called on  the Taoiseach to provide €3.5 million each year over a ten-year period. The study group concluded that €36 million would secure the future of the airport.

Cllr McDonnell obeserved: “In 2012 Minister Varadkar said that unless government policy was changed Knock Airport would pass out Shannon. So then the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan provided a €100 million write-off for it and a €10 million guarantee each year,” Cllr McDonnell said.
Fine Gael Cllr Joe Mellett said that the Government ‘has given Knock €9 million since 2011 and had abolished travel tax and, moreover, that ‘three new routes are to be introduced at the airport’.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Knock - Ryanair Extra Services

Ireland West Airport Knock are delighted to welcome extra flights with Ryanair on their hugely popular London Stansted, Lanzarote & Alicante services for the summer months. From May, Ryanair will add a second daily evening departure on Mondays on their hugely popular London Stansted service facilitating same day return options.
These additional UK services will provide additional twice daily connectivity to this key market for our business customers in particular, offering even more choice and flexibility for businesses and leisure passengers in both the West and North West regions and also the London market.
 
For the months of June and July Ryanair will also add a second weekly departure on their hugely popular Lanzarote service. Flights to Lanzarote will now depart with Ryanair on Thursdays all year round and in addition on a Saturday during June and July, offering holidaymakers the option of a short weekend break in the sun drenched Canary islands. In August Ryanair also adds a third weekly service to Alicante with flights now operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during both July and August.
These increases are in addition to the three exciting new services which Ryanair launches next month from the airport to Glasgow, Kaunas and Eindhoven. In addition Ryanair has increased capacity by 20% on their London services, adding in 50,000 new seats in 2014 providing great choice for business, leisure and VFR passengers in both our regions and the London market.
Furthermore Ryanair passengers can enjoy further perks this summer where customers can enjoy a small second carry-on bag or airport shopping bag, "quiet flights", allocated seats and use their personal electronic devices at all stages of their flight, making Ryanair the ideal choice for families and friends planning their summer 2014 holiday to any of the 16 exciting destinations which Ryanair now flies to from Ireland West Airport.
Commenting on the further increases in capacity for the summer months, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock said ‘We are delighted to welcome further increases in capacity on Ryanairs popular services to London, Alicante and Lanzarote, which we expect will be hugely popular with our customer base both here and abroad. These new services combined with the exciting new customer service initiatives being introduced by Ryanair are further good news for passengers using the airport’

Airport Parking Ireland

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Knock Airport - Busiest Year

2014 promises to be another milestone year at Ireland West Airport Knock with the year ahead forecasted to be the busiest ever year in the airports history with passenger numbers expected to exceed 700,000 for the first time. In 2013, the annual number of passengers using Ireland West Knock reached 665,000 - the second highest traffic figures at the airport since it opened in 1986.A Ryanair flight takes off from Knock Airport in Co Mayo. Photo: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
The Airport now serves over 25 International destinations and is served by four of Europes biggest airlines Aer LIngus, Flybe, Germanwings & Ryanair. The Gathering provided a major boost for passenger numbers in 2013 particularly from key markets in the UK, Italy and Germany with particular highlights including: •7% increase in traffic on London services •23% increase in traffic from the Italian market on Ryanairs Milan service •28% increase in traffic from the German market on Lufthansas Dusseldorf service •Flybe celebrated 100,000 passenger milestone at Ireland West Airport Knock on their Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester services •The Airport won the Social Enterprise Award for Connacht in the Ulster Bank Business Achiever Awards New destinations for 2014 include a new twice weekly service from Eindhoven in Holland which commences at the beginning of April.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Knock Airport - Opportunities

Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan has stated that much more needs to be done to maximise the benefits of the opportunities presented by Ireland West Airport (Knock) to the tourism sector in Co Fermanagh.

Mr Flanagan, who is the Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee, was speaking after questioning the Tourism Minister Arlene Foster on the matter.

Last year the annual number of passengers using Knock reached 665,000 - the second highest traffic figures at the airport since it opened in 1986.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Knock Airport - Gateway Park and Fly


The Gateway Hotel,  nearest Hotel to Ireland West Aiport Knock now offering the convenience of Park and Fly with AirPark.ie

Gateway Hotel Swinford - Knock Airport Parking

Nearest Hotel to Ireland West Aiport Knock

Renowned for its traditional hospitality, The Gateway Hotel, Swinford is a charming, three-star hotel situated in the centre of the bustling market town of Swinford. Only 12 minutes from Ireland West Airport Knock.  This family run hotel is located just off the main N5 and on a tributary of the world famous River Moy, which flows less than a mile down At The Gateway Hotel, Swinford, we promise traditional Irish hospitality and courteous personal attention.
Receiption
Prior to taking our shuttle service to Knock airport why not relax in our Jack Feeney Lounge, which has free Wi-Fi or enjoy beautiful home cooked food which is available all day from 7am to 9pm.the road.


Gateway Hotel
12 Minutes from Airport
FREE Shuttle Service        
Nearest Hotel to Ireland West Aiport Knock





Book Park and Fly NowAir


Airport Parking Ireland






Knock Airport - Busiest Year Forcast

Knock Airport is predicting this year will be its busiest ever year, with passenger numbers expected to exceed 700,000 for the first time.

The annual number of passengers using Ireland West Knock reached 665,000 last year - the second highest traffic figures at the airport since it opened in 1986.

The Gathering tourism promotion provided a major boost for passenger numbers in 2013, according to the airport, particularly from key markets in the UK, Italy and Germany.

There was a 7 per cent increase in traffic on London services, a 28 per cent increase in traffic from the German market on Lufthansa’s Dusseldorf service and a 23 per cent increase in traffic from the Italian market on Ryanair’s Milan service.
A Ryanair flight takes off from Knock Airport in Co Mayo. Photo: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
New destinations for 2014 include a new twice weekly service from Eindhoven in Holland which commences at the beginning of April. In addition Ryanair will commence new direct services, three times weekly, to Glasgow, from June.

We are looking forward to the year ahead being the busiest year in the airports history with four new services being launched, extra capacity on our key London services and the Wild Atlantic Way project getting underway,” airport managing director Joe Gilmore said.




Irish times





Airport Parking Ireland

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Knock Airport - Galway Region

2014 promises to be another milestone year at Ireland West Airport Knock with the year ahead forecast to be the busiest ever in the airport’s history with passenger numbers expected to exceed 700,000 for the first time.

Recent research carried out at the airport showed that 25 per cent of the Irish originating passengers who used the airport in 2013 came from the Galway region while one in two visitors who came from abroad to the West visited Galway during their stay. This equates to over 100,000 visitors to the Galway region in 2013, who used the airport as their access point, highlighting the importance of the airport as a major international gateway to Galway and the west of Ireland*.
One hundred thousand visitors to the Galway region used Ireland West Airport Knock
In 2013, the annual number of passengers using Ireland West Knock reached 665,000 - the second highest traffic figures at the airport since it opened in 1986. The airport now serves over 25 International destinations and is served by four of Europes biggest airlines Aer LIngus, Flybe, Germanwings and Ryanair.