asked the Minister for Communications if his attention has been drawn to the recently published annual report of the Cork-Kerry Regional Tourism Organisation which stated that Cork Airport had been down-graded by Aer Lingus; and the steps he intends to take to restore Cork Airport to a status worthy of the region as it is badly needed in the region at present.
Written Answers. - Cork Airport Status.
452.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy. As I indicated in the course of the recent debate on the Estimates for my Department, Cork Airport's results for 1983 are expected to show a net loss of £750,000. Aer Rianta have been concerned about the performance of the airport for some time past and within the past month have announced a major marketing initiative that has as its goal an increase of 33? per cent in passenger traffic through the airport over the next five years. Towards that end Aer Rianta are setting aside special funds for the marketing of the airport, establishing and staffing a marketing manager's office in Cork City and embarking on promoting Cork Airport in Britain and on the Continent.
Aer Lingus play an important role at Cork Airport and, while the airline have had to rationalise their schedules in line with a fall in demand, it is Aer Lingus policy to maintain a presence in all their markets in the most efficient way possible with the objective of restoring direct services where the economics so justify.
I should add that a Directive on Inter-regional Air Services which comes into effect on 1 October 1984 may help to encourage the development of services to and from airports such as Cork.