Researchers at Robert Gordon University (RGU) are exploring the social and cultural importance of small airports.
The project, called Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports (SPARA 2020) brings together partners from Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Australia in order to deliver increased innovation within the public service provision of airports.
The project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, looks at the role small airports play in the everyday lives of the local community.
Researchers from RGU’s Aberdeen Business School, Dr Graeme Baxter and Lyndsay Bloice, will hold a photo exhibition at Donegal Airport next week to gather opinion on the social and cultural importance of the airport.
The exhibition, which will feature both historical and more recent images of Donegal Airport, will be held on April 12-17.
Donegal Airport, located at Carrickfinn, Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal, started operations in 1986. It currently operates scheduled flights to and from Dublin and Glasgow, and handles around 35,000 passengers each year.
Lyndsay Bloice said: “We are looking at the social and cultural importance of small, remote airports to their local communities and will be studying small airports across Northern Europe, in Scotland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
“This exhibition at Donegal forms part of a larger project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, called Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports (SPARA) 2020.
“We are inviting people to come along to the exhibition to share their memories of Donegal Airport and give us their thoughts on the part the airport plays in their everyday lives.”
The first photo exhibition held as part of SPARA 2020 was held at Kirkwall Airport, Orkney, in October last year and attracted over 100 participants from the local community.
For further information about the research, or to register interest in being interviewed, please contact either Lyndsay Bloice (l.s.bloice1@rgu.ac.uk, Tel: 01224 263991) or Graeme Baxter (g.baxter@rgu.ac.uk, Tel: 01224 263889).
Find out more about this study of the social and cultural value of small airports on Facebook and the SPARA 2020 project on their website.