Cork Airport - *Read Mod Note in First Post Before Posting*

https://x.com/eicknews/status/1882110380820021261

"LM will increase capacity on the AMS route following Aer Lingus’ decision to axe their Amsterdam route.On most evening flights to Amsterdam in April, KLM will utilise their Embraer E195-E2 aircraft on the route.This aircraft can carry up to 132 passengers, while the usual E190 can hold 100 passengers, and the E175 can carry 88 passengers."

I think three flights a day is good at least. I can live with the Embraers if we have 3 each way per day. The problem I had previously was if there was a problem with a morning flight, I was caught until late at night.

Indeed. Looks like W25/26 will be dead in terms of EI activity.

No additional flights to ACE in December. Likely that Munich is getting the axe, meaning the Salzburg ski charters are at risk too.

It's looking very likely that the only routes being operated by Cork based aircraft next winter will be LHR,ACE and TFS. 6 routes total next winter Vs 9 routes total this winter.

Very sad to see.

They are very competitive on long haul but extortionate P2P.

I saw that on Flight Radar this morning and was wondering what it was. The flight only just landed at Paris. They must have been stuck at the airport for 10 or 11 hours. Rough

Why would any commercial airline "care" about Cork? If they can operate profitable routes they will, if they aren't profitable, they won't run them. It's not personal, folks.

It is not that routes from Cork are not profitable.

Aer Lingus want to run a regular service from Dublin - say daily flights to Berlin as an example. A twice weekly route from Cork to Berlin would be viable but it would jeaprodise the daily route from Dublin so that’s why it’s not happening.

This is not speculation. I heard this from the horse’s mouth. Such a shame for those of us in Cork.

Look, sorry about the rant here. This is the work a decent council could be doing. On behalf on businesses, employment , trade etc. “ create some incentives for these routes and planes to be based there. Big boy pants pulled up, stopping the whining about airlines. But im fairly sure that’s not going to happen.

I know holiday makers can mostly manage. It’s the long term future of city that’s a little more complicated. a lack of flights has an impact of where corporates choose to expand their operations.

Ireland is an island, flights are a basic in the modern world. cork is a center of education and industry, tech, pharma, manufacturing, engineering, services. it’s not just a puny side-colony of London Heathrow.

and forget Dublin. That airport serves the north, not cork.

Like it or not, that means all those other similar hubs of industry that are accessible have an advantage . I know of two investments that cork companies missed out on in the last year, where connectivity was a factor. The teams in cork did a great job presenting , but when you’re not the cheapest market, and housing workers is a pain, why also make the airport a weak spot?

I think the passenger numbers are not the be-all either. If a plane is almost empty, but carries three corporate heads who can approve a 500M expansion for a Cork facility worth another 300 jobs and a heap more tax revenue , then why count that as a failure vs 200 beer-lovers who might use the same route for Oktoberfest a month later?

Whenever I read the council minutes, I see parochial. They carefully read their opening prayers, continue reading lists of dead people into the minutes, discuss parking and congratulate gaa teams. Nothing remotely provocative or innovative . They behave like a village committee , barely capable of challenging a rowdy tea party, let alone representing the people of cork by incentivising these flights.

Seems Ryanair launched their summer schedule today, 1 route extended from Winter (Fue), increases across as spate of other routes. Jan 25 up 7% on Jan 24.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41568337.html

https://x.com/eoghancorry/status/1887139566626148516?s=46

little bit more detailed on the passenger numbers here, looking good for a big year.
notably Amsterdam is the second most popular route - really makes you question Aer Lingus decision to cut it

Probably outside of the top 5 anyway until when/if KLM ups capacity?

No mention of runway extension, unfortunatley.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41568862.html

Seems to be focussing on medium term plans… I still have hope for long term🤞(I’m delusional its never happening )

I belive slots at AMS are not owned by the airlines but are just traded? So sitting on those slots running loss making/not very profitable flights isn't of much benefit to Aer Lingus?