City of Derry Airport may receive funding from South

City of Derry Airport (CODA) may receive government funding from the South as it sees significant reductions in flyer numbers since 2013.

The South's Department of Transport has said it is pursuing financial aid to help the airport.

In 2022 around 163,000 people flew with the airport, less than half of the 2013 numbers when around 385,000 passengers passed through the airport.

While flights London Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow continue, Loganair announced last week that its Liverpool flight stopped at the end of October.

The airport is owned by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) and each year it costs the council £3.45m to operate.

It is understood that the City of Derry Airport asked the South's Department for financial support from the Irish government.

While the airport cannot receive funds from the South's Regional Airports Programme, other funding streams are being considered.

The Irish government has previously subsidised flights from Derry to Dublin.

Financial support for routes between Derry and Dublin and Cork to Belfast are being reviewed under the Irish government's New Decade New Approach (NDNA) commitments.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said that Council and CODA have been engaging with the UK and Irish Governments to secure funding.

They are doing this based on the completed Outline Business Cases and associated proposals that were presented to them to secure the funding support required from Government to ensure the continued sustainability and growth of the Airport.

“CODA in the North West of Ireland provides a vital air access link for the local community and performs a pivotal role in the economics of the region,” they said.

“In 2019, the airport transported 203,777 passengers to a range of destinations across the UK, a 9.7% increase from the previous year, establishing City of Derry Airport as the third fastest growing airport in the UK in 2019 based on a report from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

“The Airport continues to provide an essential air link to the UK and Ireland for visiting friends and family.”

A spokesperson for the NI Department of Finance said the UK Government's funding ends early next year.

“Following representations from NI Government departments the UK Government has provided funding to provide support to the City of Derry Airport (CODA) until March 2024, as outlined at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derrylondonderry-london-air-route-secured,” they said.

“The Department of Finance has not received a business case in respect of CODA.”

A representative the Irish Government's DoT said: “Although not eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, CODA have continued to call for Exchequer support from the Irish Government. Following discussions between Minister Chambers and management of the airport in May, the Department has been considering alternative funding opportunities that may be available to CODA.

“The Department has engaged with CoDA in this regard, seeking material to support their request. Following the assessment of material, recently submitted by CODA to the Department, next steps will then be considered in terms of any funding opportunities that may be available.

“In relation to the re-establishment of air services between Derry and Dublin, the Irish Government has committed to taking forward ‘a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to City of Derry Airport, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved connections as a priority’ as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach.

“The Department has progressed a desk-based review and in doing so has engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders, including CODA. The Department has also met with officials from the Department for the Economy (NI). Engagement has also taken place with the Department for Transport (UK) as civil aviation is a reserved matter and is under the remit of Westminster.”

They added that Minister Ryan and Minister Chambers are currently considering this review in consultation with Government colleagues.

“Minister Chambers would be happy to engage further with CoDA as well as Derry City and Strabane District Council when consultation with Government colleagues is complete.”