The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
KERRY AIRPORT is flying high...
KERRY Airport is an essential part of the tourism market here as it serves as a valuable gateway to the county. Moreover, it allows people within the county and surrounding environs the opportunity to travel to destinations worldwide from their own doorstep.
There was some good news recently for the airport with the announcement that profits for 2017 (€728,000) are up on 2016 figures (€287,613). Gross profit was over €4.8 million, up by almost €174,000. These projections have all been driven by the 335,000 passengers that have used the airport (an increase of 10,000).
There was more good news following the announcement of a €1.222 million boost to the airport for improvements like a new roof for the fire station, improved runway lighting, a new security scanner, new explosives detector, new surface overlay, and other important works.
But it’s not until you takeoff and land at Kerry Airport that you start to appreciate its accessibility factor. People in Kerry won’t need reminding of the fact that any holiday abroad usually means a 1 to 3 hour car journey just to get to an airport. But Kerry Airport has helped reduce the journey time which has taken the lethargy out of travel.
The Kerry-Berlin service should be viewed by Kerry people as a great opportunity rather than just another destination as it’s not often you get to see a wonderful city from such a convenient starting point.
The same is also true of flights to Faro and Alicante which again gives sun seekers a chance to enjoy a holiday. Management at Kerry Airport are delighted to have secured an extra month for its Faro service in 2018 which will now operate from June, July, August and September with 9 extra flights (4 on Tuesdays and 5 on Saturdays).
The Kerry-Dublin service is a staple of the airport’s daily schedule as it minimises car and rail times to the capital making it ideal for business trips and sporting events. It was announced back in February 2018 that a new Kerry-Dublin deal under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract will add an extra year to this service, extending to January 31, 2022.
Kerry Airport’s frequent access to Dublin Airport also means you can catch connecting flights to anywhere in the world. People have started their journeys to places like India, Russia, and North Africa with a short flight from Kerry to Dublin.
Kerry Airport is a wonderful amenity on our doorstep but like all services it depends on footfall to make it viable and sustainable. It’s essentially your service which is why you should consider Kerry Airport in your travel plans – be that a sun holiday, a visit to Berlin, a trip to Dublin, or as part of a connecting flight. All great holiday destinations begin with good decisions.