The annual accounts just filed by Galway Airport show that the facility incurred a €6 million loss after the Government decision last year to end subsidies.

The directors’ report states that management is trying to secure tenants for the hangars and to conclude agreements with Galway City and County Councils for the use of the car parks for park-and-ride purposes, while continuing to meet the air service needs of customers, including private charter aircraft and private aircraft.

Last year Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar announced the ending of the airport’s annual operational grant and subsidy on the airport’s Dublin route. The move – along with Aer Arann ending its routes out of Galway – resulted in scheduled services ending at Galway last year.

In spite of the collapse in traffic, the directors of Corrib Airport Ltd, which operates the airport, state in their 2011 accounts that they are “exploring all avenues to secure the future of the facility at the Galway airport site” and “to maintain air access into Galway”.