Waterford Airport breaks ground on €30 million runway extension to restore commercial jet services

Waterford Airport has broken ground on a €30 million redevelopment project backed by private US investment, targeting the restoration of international commercial air services to Ireland's South East region for the first time in years.

According to Travel Mole, the project will see the airport's runway extended to 2,287 metres and widened to 45 metres, enabling it to accommodate large commercial jet aircraft. Completion is expected in 2027, with preparatory work already under way. The development also includes upgrades to terminal facilities, parking areas and ground handling infrastructure.

Airport CEO William Bolster has indicated the facility is intended to complement rather than compete directly with Cork Airport, citing a catchment area of approximately 680,000 people within a 60-minute drive of Waterford. The airport is targeting annual passenger traffic of 400,000 within three years of operations resuming.

The project enters a competitive regional landscape. Cork Airport handled nearly 3.5 million passengers last year its busiest year on record while Shannon Airport recorded over 2.3 million passengers, its highest figure in 16 years and a 9% increase on 2024. Kerry Airport approached 500,000 passengers, also a record.

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary has previously expressed scepticism about Waterford's traffic projections, suggesting the 400,000-passenger target may be overly ambitious, while indicating the carrier could consider limited London services if operating costs were sufficiently competitive.

Waterford city and the wider South East welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors last year, supported by attractions including the Waterford Greenway and Ireland's Ancient East tourism programme, which proponents argue demonstrates a viable demand base for the restored service.

Read the full development story, including details of the runway specification and regional market analysis, in the full report.