Galway, Ireland: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Galway Airport in Ireland has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016, with the exception of the Galway Flying Club. The airport, located 4.6 miles from Galway City, was previously managed by Corrib Airport Limited. However, its runway was too short to accommodate most jet airliners, and it faced challenges due to a lack of public transport to the area. Despite briefly reopening in 2015, the airport ultimately closed to commercial flights due to a lack of demand. While Galway does not have a functioning commercial airport, nearby airports such as Shannon Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock, and Dublin Airport provide access to the region, with short travel times to Galway.

Galway Airport is closed to commercial traffic

Galway Airport in Ireland is currently closed to commercial traffic. The airport is located in Carnmore, 7.4 km east of Galway City, and is managed by Corrib Airport Limited.

The airport's last scheduled passenger traffic was on October 31, 2011, when Aer Arann ceased commercial operations. At 1289 metres, the runway is too short to handle most jet airliners, and so services were restricted to turboprop aircraft or small executive jets. Despite this, the airport served over 300,000 passengers annually at its peak, with 16 destinations.

The airport briefly reopened in 2015 but has since remained closed to commercial traffic, except for the Galway Flying Club. In 2013, Galway City Council and Galway County Council took control of the airport, and it was announced that the airport's aviation licence would cease, effectively closing the facility.

Despite Galway Airport being closed, the city of Galway remains accessible to travellers. The closest airports to Galway include Shannon Airport, a 1-hour, 10-minute drive away, Ireland West Airport Knock, a 1-hour, 20-minute drive, and Dublin Airport, a 2-hour, 15-minute drive. All three airports offer car hire and direct bus links to Galway, and train links are also available with an additional bus connection.

The airport briefly reopened in 2015

Galway Airport in Ireland has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016. However, there was a brief period in 2015 when the airport reopened.

In January 2015, Galway Airport once again welcomed commercial flights. Carnmore Aviation Ltd., a company owned by the Conneely Group in Ballinasloe, operated the airport under a licence from Galway County Council until May 2015. The Conneely Group also owns Weston Airport near Dublin, and staff were shared between the two airports during this time. This move brought commercial aviation back to Galway Airport, albeit briefly.

The airport's runway was too short to handle most jet airliners, which restricted scheduled services to turboprop aircraft or small executive jets. Despite this limitation, Galway Airport still managed to serve over 300,000 passengers annually at its peak, with flights to 16 destinations. During its brief reopening in 2015, almost 60 jets used the airport.

Unfortunately, the airport closed again for commercial traffic in 2016, and since then, it has only been used by the Galway Flying Club for fixed-wing training and leisure flying. Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, 7.4 km (4.6 miles) east of Galway City, and while it is no longer a hub for commercial flights, it continues to play a role in aviation for the local flying community.

Galway Airport's runway is too short for jet airliners

Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, 7.4 km (4.6 miles) east of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland. The airport has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016 and is currently only used by the Galway Flying Club.

The runway at Galway Airport is 1,289 metres (4,230 feet) long, which is too short to handle most jet airliners. As a result, scheduled services were restricted to turboprop aircraft or small executive jets. The airport briefly reopened to commercial flights in 2015 but closed again due to a lack of demand.

The short runway limited the airport's connectivity and restricted its ability to handle larger aircraft. During its peak, the airport served over 300,000 passengers annually, with 16 destinations. However, the limited runway length meant that larger jet airliners could not operate at the airport, impacting its growth and viability.

In recent years, there have been discussions about redeveloping the airport site for other purposes, such as a film studio or entertainment complex. However, these plans have not proceeded, and there are ongoing discussions about future ownership options.

Carnmore Aviation Ltd. operated the airport until May 2015

Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, 7.4km east of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland. The airport ceased all commercial operations in 2011 due to the runway being too short for most jet airliners. The airport briefly reopened in 2015, and until May of that year, it was operated by Carnmore Aviation Ltd., a company owned by the Conneely Group in Ballinasloe. The Conneely Group also owns Weston Airport near Dublin, and staff were shared between the two airports.

During its brief reopening, the airport could only accommodate turboprop aircraft or small executive jets. Despite this limitation, the return of commercial aviation to Galway Airport, even for a short period, was welcomed by the local authorities. Carnmore Aviation Ltd.'s licence allowed the airport to host almost 60 jets in 2015.

The airport's history dates back to 1918 when a landing ground was constructed for the Royal Flying Corps at nearby Oranmore. However, it was German businessman Ernest Steiner who built the first runway at Carnmore in 1974, opposite his factory. The runway was later extended to accommodate larger aircraft, but it remained unsuitable for jet airliners.

Galway Airport once served over 300,000 passengers annually, with 16 destinations. The airport was officially the fastest-growing airport in Ireland in 2007, with a passenger growth rate of 63% per annum. However, after 2008, the number of routes and passengers declined significantly. In 2011, the Irish government announced that funding for the airport would cease, leading to the suspension of scheduled services.

Since 2016, the airport has been closed to commercial traffic and is only used by the Galway Flying Club for fixed-wing training and leisure flying.

The airport is located 6 km from Galway city centre

Galway Airport is located 6 km from Galway city centre. The airport is situated at Carnmore, 7.4 km from Galway City, County Galway, Ireland. While the airport is closed to commercial traffic, it is still used by the Galway Flying Club.

The airport was previously managed by Corrib Airport Limited and served over 300,000 passengers annually at its peak, with 16 destinations. However, due to the runway being too short for most jet airliners, services were restricted to turboprop aircraft or small executive jets.

The airport briefly reopened to commercial flights in 2015 but closed again for commercial traffic in 2016. Galway Airport is also known for providing convenient access to Galway City and County, as well as the surrounding areas of natural beauty, including Connemara and the Burren region.

Despite Galway Airport being closed to commercial traffic, there are several nearby airports that provide access to Galway. Shannon Airport is the nearest airport, located 40.6 miles from Galway, followed by Cork Airport at 101.7 miles away, and Dublin Airport at 117 miles away. These airports offer alternative options for travellers looking to visit Galway and the surrounding areas.

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