IN MY VIEW... Declan Hasson: Six million reasons to thank John Hume

The vision that John Hume had for this former military airfield was the stuff of dreams. Yet despite its fair share of ups and downs, the airport has since become an integral part of the north-west’s transport infrastructure. It has enabled over 6.5 million people the opportunity to avail of affordable and convenient air travel for both work and pleasure.

For many businesses a credible local airport was one of the main reasons to set up in the north-west. For a significant number, it facilitated expansion and longer-term development.

By the summer of 1979, John Hume was a member of the new European parliament (MEP) and he wasted no time in sourcing European grant aid for projects in both Derry and the north-west. He was particularly concerned about Derry’s remote location, on the outer ‘rim’ of what was then the European Economic Community (EEC). Hume was passionate that investment in the former wartime airfield would go some way to addressing the problem of ‘remoteness’ and he worked tirelessly to make real things happen.

By 1981, he was instrumental in getting a new Irish airline, Avair, to launch daily flights to Dublin. For businesses in the north-west this was progress.

But Hume wanted more. In 1989, he convinced the Irish state carrier, Aer Lingus, to take over the all-important Dublin route because of its huge marketing advantage and interlining options through the Dublin hub. The national airline enjoyed many years of increasing passenger numbers on the Derry route and these were the years that saw some big industrial names establish new generation manufacturing plants in the north-west. It is no secret that John Hume was a driving force and the person who convinced US giant Seagate that Derry was the right place in which to do business.

As MEP in 1989, Hume was well aware of the golden opportunities that lay ahead with the advent of the European Single Market and the all-important issue of connectivity. He was the prime mover in securing significant European grant aid for the further development of the airport, which culminated in the opening of a new 25,000sq.ft. airport terminal, capable of handling up to 500,000 passengers annually. It must have been a very proud moment for the celebrated politician to see the realisation of his long-held dream. Derry and the north-west had ‘come of age’.

It must have been even more satisfying when, in 1999, he was there for Ryanair’s first scheduled flights to London. Although many others were involved in the airport’s new found success, it was John Hume who was its inspiration.

While firmly of the belief that the airport was crucial for the business community, Hume was also fully aware of its importance to the local tourism industry, which was starting to recover after the years of conflict.

In a keynote speech delivered almost 30 years ago, John Hume said, “If you turn left on your way out of the airport, you can be in the Giant’s Causeway area in 25 minutes. Turn right and you can be in Donegal in that time – two of the most beautiful parts of Ireland.”

When one considers the energy, commitment and determination that John Hume put into the regeneration of Derry, it is not surprising that his fingerprints are all over the biggest physical projects that dominate our landscape. They include not only the City of Derry Airport, but also the spectacular Foyle Bridge and the deep-water port at Lisahally, to name but a few.

When the fourteen passengers stepped on to that Loganair aircraft in April 1979, for the first scheduled flight from Derry, they were making history. In the years since, history continues to be made with over six million passengers having transited through City of Derry Airport (CoDA). For the critics it’s worth remembering that there are many cities across these islands that would dearly love to have an airport on their doorstep, providing speedy connections to the major centres of business. Its contribution to the local economy is often understated and not fully appreciated.

One stakeholder, with vast experience of CoDA, told me that while there were many individuals who contributed to the airport’s development, it was John Hume who was, without question “the single most influential and effective politician in driving that development.”

Apart from those six million passengers, the entire north-west owes the Nobel Laureate a huge ‘debt of gratitude’.

Perhaps now is the appropriate time to recognise John Hume’s enormous contribution to the development of our airport by re-naming it: City of Derry (John Hume) Airport.

No-one deserves it more.