Cork Airport gets stradled with the terminal debt whilst the DAA bags the proceeds from the sale of the Great Southern hotel group and its stakes in airports such as Birmingham and Dusseldorf. Cork city is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the only possible counterweight to Dublin. But unfortunately, the government seems set against regional development in the south by hindering the growth of one of the state's most important national infrastructure in Cork. It's runways are short and need to be extended but there will be no money now to do that. Large debt repayments will mean little money for investment, airport charges will need to increase and airlines will pull routes.
I can remember a Fokker 50 aquaplaning off the runway in Cork in a howling cross wind in the 90's. The government is investing in the lengthening the runway in Derry and has invested money in all of the regional airports around Ireland. It's just a shame it doesn't have the same commitment to develop Cork airport.