Waterford Airport has begun talks with airlines ahead of the planned return of scheduled passenger services in 2027, with CEO William Bolster confirming discussions have taken place with Ryanair.
Speaking to WLR during a tour of the major runway development, Mr Bolster said discussions with a regional airline have also already begun, with the airport preparing further data to present to larger carriers.
“I’ve talked to a regional airline already. We’re going into the big boys then after that.”
Asked specifically about Ryanair, Mr Bolster confirmed discussions have taken place.
“We will be talking to Ryanair, and we have been talking to them. Michael is open to looking at this as a destination, but Michael’s a hard man to tie down.”
The airport CEO said he hopes announcements on potential destinations and airlines can be made within the coming months.
Runway works ahead of schedule
Significant construction work is currently underway at Waterford Airport as its runway is extended and widened to accommodate larger commercial aircraft.
Mr Bolster told WLR the project is currently ahead of schedule, although he cautioned that progress remains heavily dependent on weather conditions as winter approaches.
Around 50 people are currently employed on the project, with Mr Bolster describing it as one of the largest civil engineering projects currently underway in Ireland.
He said approximately 7,500 tonnes of clay is being moved on the site every day, with material excavated from one section being reused elsewhere.
“There’s not one single load of clay or soil [that has] left this site. It’s all reused.”
Mr Bolster said that since WLR’s last visited the project, construction had progressed from approximately a quarter of the way along the runway to around three-quarters.
400,000 passenger target
Waterford Airport is ultimately targeting around 400,000 passengers annually, a substantial increase on its previous peak passenger levels.
Mr Bolster said the airport previously handled around 140,000 passengers and employed approximately 48 people at that level of activity.
He believes there is sufficient demand across the South East to support the airport’s ambitions.
According to figures being compiled by the airport for discussions with airlines, Mr Bolster said approximately 1.8 million airline tickets are sold to people in the South East each year.
“There’s 1.8 million tickets sold out of the South East of Ireland alone each year. So that’s quite the ticket range that we would like to be able to take some of that.”
He said that gave him confidence that the airport’s 400,000-passenger target was achievable.
Terminal and VIP facilities planned
The runway is only one part of the wider transformation planned for Waterford Airport.
A planning application has now been submitted for a major extension to the existing terminal, while further development is also proposed at the airport’s fire station.
Mr Bolster said the terminal project would provide the airport with the expanded departures facilities required to meet modern airport security standards.
The development is also expected to include a dedicated Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility, effectively a private terminal catering for business and VIP aviation.
Mr Bolster said the facility could help attract businesspeople and other high-profile visitors directly into the South East.
“This is all about getting business into the South East, and that’s what it’s about. There’s a high demand for that.”
‘Definitely’ flights in 2027
Asked how confident he was that flights would operate from Waterford next year, Mr Bolster was emphatic.
“You’ll definitely have flights coming out in 2027 if I have anything to do with it, and the weather keeps going the way we’re going, and the pace of work at the moment.”
Where those flights will go, however, remains undecided.
“We just don’t know where we’ll all be flying to. But look, that’s one for the airlines, and that discussion will be happening.”
Mr Bolster said the airport hopes to be in a position to make announcements “in the coming months.”
