‘Significant opportunity’ for Tipperary as €30m Waterford Airport upgrade progresses
A Tipperary councillor has called for the county to be included in Waterford Airport’s catchment area as part of the €30m redevelopment of the airport.
That’s according to independent councillor John O’Heney, who said that the current works to extend the runway at the South East airport can improve regional connectivity.
The Tipperary councillor has said that re-establishing a flight to London from Waterford Airport would be an ideal route to start with.
“Once the runway project is completed, the priority must be attracting airlines and re-establishing scheduled passenger services.
“A connection to London would be an excellent starting point, opening up opportunities for both business and leisure travel, while future routes to other UK and European destinations should also be actively pursued,” he said.
Earlier this year, the airport launched a €30million development project that would aim to see 400,000 passengers flowing through the airport each year by 2029.
Investors have confirmed that talks are ongoing with airlines about commercial flights from Waterford in 2027/2028.
Neighbouring counties Kilkenny and Wexford are also planning on investing €100,000 each to fund road realignment around the airport, allowing larger aircraft to land there.
Independent Tipperary councillor John O’Heney. © Facebook
Now, Cllr O’Heney said that Tipperary should be considered as part of the airport’s catchement area to fully benefit from the upgraded airport.
“The ongoing runway extension at Waterford Airport is a significant milestone and one that has the potential to deliver lasting benefits not just for Waterford, but for Tipperary and the wider South East,” he said.
“Recently, I have been in discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority about the role Waterford Airport can play in improving regional connectivity.
“It is important that Tipperary is recognised as a key part of the airport’s catchment, with businesses, tourists and local communities all set to benefit from better access to air travel,” the independent councillor added.
The opportunity to improve tourism across Tipperary with the upgrades should be encouraged, the independent councillor said.
“Reliable regional air links can help drive economic growth, support tourism, encourage inward investment and provide greater travel options for people across Tipperary.
“This is an opportunity we should fully embrace, and I will continue working to ensure our county benefits from the development of Waterford Airport,” Cllr O’Heney added.