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Waterford Airport

Coordinates: 52°11′14″N 007°05′13″W / 52.18722°N 7.08694°W / 52.18722; -7.08694
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52°11′14″N 007°05′13″W / 52.18722°N 7.08694°W / 52.18722; -7.08694

Waterford Airport

Aerphort Phort Láirge
File:Waterfordairport2.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorWaterford Airport Company/Comhlacht Aerphort Phort Láirge
ServesWaterford
Elevation AMSL119 ft / 36 m
WebsiteFlyWaterford.com
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 4,701 1,433 Asphalt
Sources: Airport website [1] and DAFIF [2][3]

Waterford Airport (IATA: WAT, ICAO: EIWF), or Aerphort Phort Láirge in Irish, also known as the South East Regional Airport, is located near Waterford, and Wexford serving the south-east coast of the Republic of Ireland.

History and Development

Waterford Airport was set up by Waterford Corporation with State and private support in 1979/'80 at an investment of €1.76 million. The airport opened in December 1981 with a 1200 metre long and 29 metre wide runway for single and twin-engine light aircraft. The terminal building was initially a portacabin. The first customer at the airport was Waterford Aero Club, who are still successfully flying from the airport.

Avair provided the first scheduled passenger service from the airport between Waterford and Dublin in April 1982. The failure of Avair in February 1983 left the airport without a scheduled passenger service until the arrival of Ryanair in 1985. Though the airport continued operations with air taxi flights for the business community, occasional charters to race meetings and of course the training of pilots, an activity that has always been a daily part of operations at Waterford.

The 8th July 1985 was a historic day for the small airport in the South East, as on that day Ryanair commenced the airport’s first international scheduled passenger service between Waterford and London-Gatwick. This was to be Ryanair's very first scheduled service (their scheduled operations from Dublin started in May 1986). The fledgling airline started the London route with a humble 15-seat Embraer Bandeirante.

Demand soon exceeded the capacity of this aircraft and the service was upgraded to a 44 seat Hawker Siddley 748 in May 1986. At the same time the opportunity was taken to switch the service to London-Luton.

Luton Airport has remained the most successful and convenient destination for Waterford passengers since then.

Following a change in policy, Ryanair discontinued services from Irish regional airports and its place on the London route was soon taken in 1993 by Manx Airlines using BAe Jetstream 41, 29 seat aircraft, this time flying to London-Stansted. Within two weeks of starting operations from Waterford, Manx Airlines added the Manchester route. Manx Airlines later became British Regional Airlines and traded under franchise as British Airways Express to Waterford until January 2001.

The small family owned airline Suckling Airways (later to become Scot Airways) operated along side British Regional Airlines using Dornier 228 18 seat aircraft to London-Luton from 1994 to 2000.

In January 2001 Euroceltic Airways commence scheduled services from Waterford to London-Luton using 44 seat Fokker F27s. In November 2001 the company added Liverpool and in October 2002 a link to Dublin was established.

In January 2003, Euroceltic ceased operations but was succeeded by Aer Arann in June 2003 on the important Waterford to London-Luton route. Also in 2003 [Pilot Training College] Ireland established their training base at Waterford Airport.

Aer Arann has successfully grown its operations since their introduction to Waterford adding in turn London, Manchester, Lorient (summer only) and, in May 2007, Birmingham.

Slattery Sun and Atlantic Airways introduced three new destinations from Waterford Airport in June 2007 – Bordeaux, Faro and Malaga – using BAe146 short take off and landing (STOL) jet aircraft. This marked the first time that “summer sun” destinations have been made available from the airport. It is also noteworthy in that it was the first time a jet airliner has been regularly used on scheduled passenger flights from Waterford. In 2008, these routes will be operated by Aer Arann using 146 aircraft, with the addition of Amsterdam – a very exciting development with Waterford Airport having a link to one of Europe’s main hubs.

Expansion

Waterford Airport is currently at the early stages of a substantial capital development programme to be completed by the end of 2009. The total programme amounts to €27.7 million, with €22.3 million of this funding recently allocated by the Minister for Transport under the Department of Transport’s Capital Expenditure Grant Scheme. The projects funded under the development programme will transform Waterford Airport. We will see improved facilities and a much-improved experience for those flying to and from the airport. The programme encompasses the extension of the runway to 1,850 metres long and 45 metres wide. The ability to accommodate mid sized jets will allow us to tap into the region’s pent up demand for additional scheduled services and charter business.

The fully upgraded and remodelled connecting road, R708, from Waterford city to the Airport was completed in early July 2008, reducing the journey time from Waterford City Centre to the Airport to 10 minutes at off peak times and from the outer ring road, R470, to the Airport to 5 minutes.

Airlines and destinations

Aer Arann is currently the only scheduled airline operating from Waterford Airport with services to London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham these routes are all operated by ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. Additional seasonal services were operated to Lorient (France), Bordeaux (France), Faro (Portugal) and Malaga (Spain). There where also a connection with Amsterdam (The Netherlands) from Waterford. All of these services (exept for Lorient) where all flown with a BAe 146-200 belonging to Nex Aviation and all of those destinations (exept for Lorient) where originated in Galway. The route to Amsterdam was later replaced by Aer Arann´s own ATR-72. Aer Arann will not be operating any of these destinations (exept for Lorient) in the summer of the year 2009.

Passenger Numbers

  • 2003 - 24,000 passengers
  • 2004 - 55,000 passengers
  • 2005 - 71,000 passengers
  • 2006 - 85,000 passengers
  • 2007 - 116,000 passengers
  • 2008 - 144,000 passengers (25% increase)

Passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 500,000 over the next 5 years.

Companies based at Waterford Airport

  • Aer Arann opened a base at Waterford in 2007. The base operates the London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham routes from Waterford.
  • Waterford Airport is the base for the South East Rescue Helicopter operated by the Irish Coast Guard and provides 24 hour marine rescue cover.
  • The Pilot Training College of Ireland flight training organisation, approved by the Irish Aviation Authority, and carrying out commercial pilot training is based here. Pilot training forms a major part of the day-to-day activity at the airport.
  • ATSI (Aircraft Technical Support Ireland) offers a complete aircraft management and maintenance solution for fleet owners, group and individual owners of private aircraft in Ireland. Their main commercial customers include Aer Arann and The Pilot Training College of Ireland.
  • Waterford Aero Club was founded in 1982 with the aim of bringing people with an interest in aviation and create a vehicle to expand that interest and provide flight training. The club is registered with the Irish Aviation Authority, as a Registered Training Facility and can conduct training to a private pilot standard.
  • Shamrock Aviation, an aircraft maintenance facility based at Waterford Airport offer the fullest aircraft and engine services and repair facilities.
  • The International Academy of Travel provides Cabin Crew, Check-in, Reservation Sales, Travel Agency and Holiday Rep training to candidates hoping to obtain Travel Industry Careers. Graduates of the Academy are currently working for many airlines and travel companies world-wide.

Airport data

  • Aerodrome licensed for: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Category A & B aircraft
  • ICAO RFF: Category 2, with up to Category 7 available on request
  • Aerodrome elevation: 36.3 m (119 ft)
  • Runways: Asphalt (PCN 12-15) RWY03 and RWY21
  • Take off distance available: 1,433 m (4,701 ft), for both runways
  • Landing distance available:
    • RWY03 1,343 m (4,406 ft)
    • RWY21 1,290 m (4,232 ft)
  • Waterford tower: 129.85 MHz
  • Waterford ATIS 121.15 MHz (also available by telephoning +353 (0)51 877000)
  • Waterford Ground 121.6 MHz
  • Waterford information: 129.85 MHz
  • Navigation aids: ILS (RWY 21) Cat 1 110.9 MHz IWD, DME (Zero range THR RWY 21) 110.9 MHz IWD, NDB (DOC 15 nm) 368 kHz WTD

See also

References

  1. ^ Waterford Airport, official site
  2. ^ Template:WAD
  3. ^ Airport information for WAT at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).


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