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From Castlebar - County Mayo - Business
Ireland West Airport Knock is delighted to announce the official opening of the new ‘Kennedy Terminal’ which took place at Ireland West Knock on Friday October 16th 2009. The new Terminal was officially opened by Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD. The new Terminal is a further landmark achievement for the airport and forms part of a total capital investment project of €11.5m which included major developments this year such as 1. Integration of a new fully automated ‘real-time’ flight arrival and departure information system which enables passengers and greeters to view same day travel updates for 20+ flight destinations both in the terminal and online at www.irelandwestairport.com
2. Implementation of a new CAT II ILS (Instrument Landing System). The major benefit of the new landing systems has been to radically improve the airport’s reliability with aircraft now able to land in low cloud conditions thereby massively reducing by 98% the possibility of diversions and putting the airport on a par with Cork, Shannon, Dublin and other international airports 3. The completion of c.3,000 sq. metres of New Terminal building and upgrading creating more circulation space for passengers with a new security screening area, extended check in facilities, increased departures lounge space as well as new retail, catering and other facilities.
Airport Chairman Mr Scollan thanked the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD and the Government for its support. "Government support for infrastructure here has been of enormous benefit. We can now say now that this airport has arrived as a truly international, low cost, reliable airport with even more ease and speed of passage for passengers wishing to use us from all over Ireland."
Ireland West Airport Knock are also delighted to announce that the new expanded departures area will be called the "Kennedy Terminal" after Mr. Joe Kennedy, Honorary President of the Airport's Board of Directors and former Chairman for over seven years. In announcing the naming of the new terminal as the "Kennedy Terminal", Liam Scollan, Chairman of Ireland West Airport Knock said that Joe Kennedy had made a very significant contribution to the development of the airport over recent years, saying: "Joe has been a major driving force behind the Airport's recent growth and we are delighted that there will be a permanent sign of thanks to him, his wife Kathleen and family, here in this airport."
Joe Gilmore, Managing Director Ireland West Airport Knock said "Despite the tough economic conditions the Airport will serve more than 600,000 passengers this year which is almost on a par with 2008 figures and this is a huge vote of confidence in Ireland West Airport Knock as a key access point to the UK and Europe for people in the West, North West and Midlands regions of Ireland and further strengthens our position as the low cost, convenient alternative to larger congested airports. I see us as entering a new phase where we can, with the right support from Government and other partners, act as a catalyst to growing more transport connections, tourism, enterprise and jobs in the region."
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