In Reply to: Re: Knock Airport passenger numbers rise by 55% posted by Quimby on October 28, 2004 at 17:02:07:

Knock is indeed finally attracting some passengers. But its not really contributing as an engine for regional growth – which is what it was originally meant to be. Knock does more to stimulate the economy of Lanzarotte and, ironically, Fatima, than its contributes to the West.

The West has too many airports, which just take business off each other and stop any one getting enough size to be a true engine for growth. Its sad that money was squandered in this way. This is half recognised in the Western Development Commission suggestion that all future development should be concentrated at Knock and Shannon. However, both of these airports are only located where they are for political reasons, and neither is well placed to truly contribute to development.

If more significant funding is available for airport development in the West we should bite the bullet and use it to relocate Galway airport to a site capable of development.