Waterford Airport can be fully operational again by spring of next year.

That’s the hope of council chief Michael Walsh.

The airport hasn’t had commercial flights since the middle of 2016 and Waterford Council is awaiting a decision from the Department of Transport on its future.

If the Department puts up five million euro in funding, a planning application will be made to extend the runway to 2,200 metres.

Private investors would then match the State investment, while the council is pledging a further 2 million to fund the extension.

Michael Walsh believes a decision from the Department is near.

He told Councillors “If it’s positive we’ll be driving on, there’ll be a planning application and we’ll be driving on with the proposal as early as at all possible. Certainly hoping.. if we are doing it to have the work done in the good weather this summer with the view to being fully operational from Spring 2020.”