4. Cork International Airport
Introduction
10.178 Direct airline and passenger related charges can no longer be relied upon to sustain the enterprise and the need for non-direct income sources is now fundamental to the Airports future survival and instilling a renewed competitiveness. 10.179 Allowing land uses which will provide potential alternative income streams from those direct charges that have historically supported Cork Airport will be provided for in this plan. 10.180 Whilst in recent years Cork Airport which is owned and operated by Dublin Airport Authority has expanded its strategic vision to take account of this dynamic funding environment, the importance of this particular asset to the regions socio-economic wellbeing requires all stakeholders to consider policy options that will place Cork Airport on a sustainable financial trajectory – facilitating route and frequency expansion and ensuring ongoing and enhanced international connectivity for the region.
10.175 Cork International Airport is the principal gateway to the Southern region and one the most significant strategic employment areas in the City. 10.176 A report undertaken by InterVISTAS in 2019 demonstrates the regional economic benefit of Cork Airport. This InterVISTAS (2019) report indicates that prior to the COVID 19 pandemic traffic at Cork Airport increased in recent years resulting in a growth rate of 5.7% per year. The economic impact of Cork International Airport has been estimated at €904 million by directly or indirectly creating and supporting the employment of 12,180 people. This equates to 10,740 full time jobs. 10.177 To help reinvigorate the Airport and support its efforts to re-establish and grow its business model this plan is cognisant, that the financial models that underpin the airport have changed significantly.
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Cork City Draft Development Plan 2022-2028
Volume 1 I Chapter 10
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