I thank Deputy Cooper-Flynn for raising this issue. She has done so continuously for the past seven or eight days, hoping to get it on the Adjournment. I wanted to be here to speak on the issue.
I recognise that regional airports throughout the country operate under very difficult circumstances. While the Deputy was speaking, my mind wandered back to the beginning of Knock airport. I remember the huge antipathy that existed in this House and throughout the country against Knock airport and the dogged determination of those who conceived the idea and brought it to fruition, which has kept it there and functioning very well. The small scale of the operation in regional airports means that it is always a struggle to make ends meet. Regional airports must work hard to attract air services and they must battle to retain them. Knock airport has been one of the more successful of the regional airports in that regard.
There are currently three airlines operating scheduled services into Knock, Ryanair, BA Express and Aer Lingus. During the summer there is a wide range of charter flights. Ryanair provides a daily service from Knock to Stansted, BA Express provides five services weekly to Manchester and Aer Lingus provides a weekend service to Birmingham. The intention of Aer Lingus to withdraw this last service is what has prompted Deputy Cooper-Flynn, representing the constituency in that area, to seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment. I am aware of the concerns expressed about Aer Lingus's proposal. I too am concerned when any airline offering services to or from an Irish airport withdraws these services, regardless of the country of origin of the airline.
The Deputy and I pursued and discussed this matter during the summer and she, in turn, spoke to Aer Lingus. The service was introduced in 1995 on a temporary basis and Aer Lingus operated a Fokker 50 aircraft with a capacity for 50 passengers. The load factors have been 50 per cent on the 50 seater aircraft. The airline is now upgrading its fleet to an all jet operation, therefore it will no longer have a suitable aircraft available to continue the Knock-Birmingham service.
As a general principle, issues concerning the operation of services by Aer Lingus on their network are matters for the airline. They have a commercial mandate from the Government, therefore I cannot order them to operate any particular route. However, I will convey to the chairman, Mr. Cahill, the content of the debate here tonight and the very grave concerns mooted by the Deputy.
Under EU regulations, all EU airlines are free to operate on any route or to withdraw from any route. I am sure the management of Knock airport will make every effort to secure a replacement service. The airport board has, over the years, demonstrated its capacity to trade commercially and profitably and has ploughed those profits back into the improvement of Knock airport. I am aware, as is the House, that the abolition of duty free at the end of last June has made a huge difference to the operation of those airports. It was the main source of revenue for Knock airport. Knock and Kerry are the two regional airports which have been worst affected as a result of the loss of duty free sales. It has moved them from a small profit-making situation to a loss-making situation.
Airports are now facing huge challenges. I am meeting all the airport boards, including the board of Knock airport, to work out a plan and regional airports will feature in the renewal of Government programme. A range of regional airport grant schemes have been in operation and I will be looking at those in the context of the national development plan and the forthcoming Estimates. I take the point raised by Deputy Cooper-Flynn and I will convey to the chairman of Aer Lingus her strong concerns together with the Official Report of the debate and ask him to examine it very carefully. I will also ask that it be remembered, as the Deputy said, that in the dark days Knock airport stood by Aer Lingus when it was necessary, something I hope Aer Lingus will take into account. I will certainly send Aer Lingus the Official Report and talk to the chairman.