Waterford Airport Reopening: Flights Set to Return in 2027, 25 Minutes from Kilmeaden

Kilmeaden could soon be one of the best-placed villages in Ireland for a quick getaway. Waterford Airport’s runway extension is about 70% complete, and scheduled passenger flights are targeted to return in summer 2027, a short drive across the city from the village.

Here’s the latest on the works, the airlines, and why it matters for Kilmeaden.

The key facts

Investment	About €30 million, privately funded
Runway	Extended to 2,287 m, widened to 45 m
Aircraft	Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 jets
Works began	18 May 2026
Progress	About 70% complete (late October 2026)
Flights target	Summer 2027
Passenger goal	Up to 400,000 a year within three to five years

Where the works are now

Construction started on 18 May 2026 when the sod was turned at the airport in Killowen. By the end of October, the runway works were reported to be about 70% complete and running ahead of schedule.

It’s a big civil engineering job. The project has been called the largest ground stabilisation scheme in Ireland, moving more than 7,500 tonnes of clay a day to make room for a runway that can take full-size passenger jets.

The airport has also lodged planning applications with Waterford City and County Council for a two-storey terminal extension and eight new hangars, and plans to upgrade its ground equipment and add car parking.

Who’s paying for it?

The redevelopment is privately funded. The main backer is US businessman Kelcy Warren, who is investing in the region of €30 million through the new company, Waterford Airport Ltd. Waterford City and County Council approved the plan in October 2025 on the basis that it would go ahead without Government funding. William Bolster, previously the largest shareholder in the old airport company, is now chief executive.

Which airlines are in talks?

• Ryanair: talks are under way. William Bolster has said flights will “definitely” operate in 2027 if construction keeps to plan.
• Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional): discussions have started, and the airline says it’s open to new opportunities.
• easyJet and Jet2: easyJet has said it has no plans to operate from Waterford, and Jet2 said it isn’t in talks.

When the airport asked the public where they’d like to fly, London and Málaga came out on top, with Lanzarote close behind. No routes have been confirmed yet. The owners have said they hope to announce a likely pairing with an Irish airline and an overseas one before the end of 2026.

Why it matters for Kilmeaden

Kilmeaden is just west of Waterford City, so the airport at Killowen is roughly 25 minutes away by car. Compare that with around an hour and 25 minutes to Cork Airport and about two hours to Dublin.

• Shorter journeys. A city break or a week in the sun could start with a 25-minute drive instead of an early-morning motorway run.
• More visitors on the doorstep. Direct flights from the UK would make it easy for visitors to come for a long weekend of Mount Congreve Gardens, the Waterford Suir Valley Railway and the Waterford Greenway. Our guide to the best family days out near Kilmeaden has plenty more.
• Local jobs and investment. The construction phase was expected to support more than 100 jobs, with more to follow as flights grow. Together with the planned redevelopment of the Kilmeaden Cheese Factory site, it adds to the case for Kilmeaden as a place to live and work.
• Better links for families. For anyone with family in England or Europe, direct routes from Waterford would make visits far simpler.

Could the 2027 date slip?

Possibly. Summer 2027 is the target, and three things still have to happen:

1. The works must finish on time. So far they’re ahead.
2. The Irish Aviation Authority must recertify the airport for commercial flights.
3. An airline must commit and put flights on sale.

Until tickets are on sale, it’s worth treating 2027 as the goal rather than a promise.

Ten years without flights

Waterford Airport has had no scheduled passenger service since 2016. At its busiest it handled around 140,000 passengers a year. In that time the south-east has been the only region in Ireland without regular flights, even though people in the region buy around 1.8 million airline tickets a year. The new runway is designed to change that for good.

We’ll keep this page updated as airlines and routes are announced.

Sources: TRAVEL Extra, RTÉ News, Waterford Live.