Waterford Airport takes flight in Brussels

Waterford Airport has been discussed with top EU officials in Brussels.

Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú who is a member of the EU Transport Committee, raised discussion on the future of the airport this week.

On Monday, June 16, Ms Ní Mhurchú raised Waterford Airport in the chamber of the European Parliament, the Hemicycle. 

In doing so she discussed the potential a regional airport, like that in Waterford, could have in developing cutting edge drone technology and in developing new sustainable aviation fuels.

“Flights to and from Waterford Airport need to resume but there are several other opportunities for the airport that can drive local investment and create jobs," she said.

"Drones and sustainable aviation fuels are two key areas of technology that are growing exponentially," she added.

She went on comment: "Why not turn Waterford Airport into a hub to research, test and develop next generation aviation fuels so that we can lead a greening of the aviation industry.”

Ms Ní Mhurchú discussed the issue of the airport with EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, whom she called on to institute a new pan-European investment fund for regional airports.

She outlined the potential of Waterford Airport to the Commissioner and asked him to consider a new EU fund to drive specific aviation-based research and innovation partnerships between our regional airports and our Technical Universities, to develop cutting edge aviation related technologies that Europe desperately needs. 

Ms Ní Mhurchú is scheduled to meet the Commissioner in July.

She also said she hopes to meet with the management team of Waterford Airport and Minister Darragh O’Brien in the coming days to discuss progressing the Programme for Government commitment to progress the Waterford Airport project, to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government decision of 2019.