Planes will return to Galway Airport in the short-term after agreement was reached between a private operator and two local authorities.
Carnmore Aviation Limited signed an agreement with Galway City and County Councils, that it would take control of the facility for eleven months.
The private company, backed by County Galway man Brian Conneely, who operates the private airstrip at Weston outside Dublin, is paying the Councils for use of the facility during that period.
The deal, which will see planes returning to Galway’s skies, was signed by the parties on Friday evening at County Hall.
A City Council spokesperson confirmed the deal was a short-term agreement of eleven months that allows the two local authorities time to engage consultants to carry out a feasibility study for the long-term future use of the Galway Airport site.
The Councils purchased the facility from Galway Chamber late last year, but the €1.1 million deal for the 115 acres site only went through in the past few weeks.
He said the site was purchased because of its strategic location as a possible economic driver of development of the city and county.
Carnmore Aviation Limited is expected to provide a refuelling and rescue base for the Air Corps and Coastguard for eleven months.
It will also allow Galway Flying Club to continue to use it as a base for its activities. The flying club had ceased in the past couple of weeks but it is understood it has resumed normal services as of this week.
The company operates a private taxi service between Weston and Biggin Hill, a private airport in London, which allows company executives and others to commute between the two capital cities.
It is understood a similar service could be offered to private citizens and business people from Carnmore to Weston and possibly London.
