asked the Minister for Transport and Power if it is intended to increase the length of the main runway at Cork Airport in view of the fact that the airport is losing important charter traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Airport.
15.
This matter has been examined in my Department. The terrain at the airport is difficult and the extension of the main runway would relatively be very costly. The extension of the runway would, nevertheless, be considered seriously if the operational need for an extension were established and the extension could be economically justified.
I should say that no airline company or operator has as yet made any case of substance for an extension of the runway. The limitations of the present main runway may from time to time impose economic penalties on individual aircraft operations but such penalties would be negligible compared to the cost of extending the runway; and there is as yet no evidence that the development of traffic at the airport is being inhibited by the present runway lengths.