Posted online: Jan 11th, 2012

By Chris Ashmore
The number of passengers taking flights from Donegal Airport fell by 14.3% in 2011 – down to 40,102 from 46,825 in the previous year.
The downturn in the economy is being cited as the major contributing factor with fewer leisure trips, in particular, being made.
“This is due to recessionary times really,” commented Marketing Manager, Pauline Sweeney. “Tourism in the North West Region has been hardest hit and also less people are making leisure trips to Dublin now than before.”
Earlier this year management welcomed the awarding of a three year contract by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport to Flybe/Loganair on the Donegal/Dublin route while the services were cut at other regional airports.
“The reduced traffic would have been a factor in the carrier appointment with lesser capacity aircraft while leaving the number of rotations of two flights per day to and from Dublin to service and develop new markets,” she said.
Despite problems with high winds, the airline had an excellent operational record with over 90% on time performance since they started in early November.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar announced funding for regional airports in 2011 with Donegal Airport being awarded €42,630.
Major runway works approved by the Department were also carried out in 2010/11 with all contracts coming in on time and under budget.
The airport has endured a checkered history. Originally developed as a grass strip – and partly to service businesses on the Gweedore Industrial Estate – the throughput of passengers was just 2,784 in 1985.
Over the years a variety of airlines operated services with mixed success. Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Loganair, Malinair, Brightair, and Ireland Airways were among the carriers.
However, the introduction of the Public Service Obligation contract – which subsidises provincial air services – was a huge boost to regional airports like Donegal.