Ireland West Airport Knock expects its revenues to decrease by €11 million in 2020 and to experience €4 million in losses due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by The Irish Times, a spokesperson for the airport stated that the number of passengers that passed through the airport decreased by 90% during the summer period as a result of the pandemic.
The airport currently expects to have played host to 145,000 passengers this year, which is 82% less than the 807,000 passengers to which it played host in 2019.
Passengers numbers are not expected to return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2023 at the earliest.
Cost Cuts
The airport's spokesperson said that Ireland West Airport Knock is continuing to implement cost cutting measures in response to the pandemic's impact.
The airport's workforce has been reduced by up to 70% in a bid to cut costs, and its remaining employees are currently working three days a week. To date, 43 staff have been made redundant. A number of other employees have been temporarily laid off until business improves.
The airport's total operating costs have been reduced by 40% since the onset of the pandemic.
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
