Regional airports granted marginal funding increase
As part of the Regional Airport Programme 2021-2025, the Government has increased funding for regional airports by €5.6 million.
On 25 April 2025, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers TD, announced combined funding of over €5.6 million to support eligible regional airports in Donegal, Kerry, and Ireland West (Knock).
The other regional airports in Sligo and Waterford were not granted funding as they do not have any active routes.
Post-Covid, the aviation sector has rallied in Ireland, with close to record passenger numbers in Dublin Airport (which is subject to a passenger cap), increases recorded in Shannon, Cork, and the two Belfast airports, with Knock Airport experiencing a record year in 2023.
However, the regional airport sector in Ireland – north and south – has largely failed to recover from the crash caused by the decline in passenger traffic in the 2008 financial crisis.
This has resulted in the closure of Galway Airport, which in 2008 offered 16 routes and served over 300,000 passengers. The airports in Waterford and Sligo similarly both served zero passengers in 2023. In the North, the City of Derry Airport continued its stagnancy with a marginal decline in traffic recorded in 2023.
The airports in Kerry and Knock currently handle international traffic, and even the domestic route between Kerry and Dublin is operated on a commercial basis without government subvention. Waterford Airport is also likely to expand its capacity to be able to handle large jets such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
However, the regional aviation sector has never recovered from the post-2008 downturn, and this remains likely to largely remain the case, as is necessary if the transport sector is to play its part in enabling the Government to meet its Climate Action Plan targets for emissions reductions.
Speaking at Donegal Airport, where he announced the funding grant, Minister of State Chambers said: “This funding represents significant investment in our regional airports. Among the 32 projects being supported this year are an aerodrome ground lighting project here at Donegal Airport.
“While many of the projects being supported have environmental aspects to them, ten of the projects approved for funding, amounting to €1.2 million, have a fundamental sustainability focus. These include carbon reduction plans here at Donegal and at Ireland West [Knock] Airport. Other projects include the upgrade to electric vehicles at Kerry Airport and Ireland West Airport.”
