No contract has been signed yet with new investors for Waterford Airport.
Talks between those involved in the airport and the Comer Brothers from Galway have been ongoing for a number of months now.
However, board member, Councillor Jim Griffin, says the heads of terms have been agreed and the deal is as good as complete now.
A multi-million euro runway extension is needed in order for commercial flights to resume from Waterford.
"From what we're hearing, we would be hoping boots would be on the ground very early in March and that is still a realistic plan for us.
"Yes, I can see the frustration with people - and us as councillors - it's similar to the North Quays as it's going on with years.
"But these projects, unfortunately in the current climate that we're in, they don't happen overnight.
"People who are going to invest money now, they want to make sure that they are making the right decisions."
Meanwhile, a leading Irish aviation expert says he agrees with some of the sentiments recently expressed about Waterford Airport by Michael O'Leary.
The Ryanair boss said the aiport has no future and that Ireland already has too many.
"Waterford, you know, it's not really well located," editor of the Air and Travel Magazine, Eoghan Corry told Déise Today earlier, "because of the access, both to Cork and to Dublin.
"Waterford could conceivably have a couple of services to Britain, but that's really the height of it."
Continuing, Mr Corry said Waterford Airport would really need a defined purpose:
"Let's work out what the objective of Waterford Airport is before we start putting the money in. And if the objective - like Shannon, which is a big airport for inbound tourism - if the tourism offering in Waterford [is the objective], look at what you're trying to get from the airport.
"If you had a business community in that 5,000 capacity, that's what you're looking for. But one flight a day doesn't do it."
Despite this, Councillor Griffin says the deal with the investors is "as good as done."
"We have given them confidence that they are making the right decision.
"For the people of the South East, when you take in the amount of people we are looking at, why can't Waterford Airport be the next Knock or be the next Shannon, you know?
"We have everything going right for us now so we need to be forthright and to say to these investors that they are making the right decision.
"And I would be sure to say government won't be found wanting when it comes to following that investment."
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