Cork Airport in flying form
Ryanair has announced its largest ever summer schedule, plus a third aircraft for Cork Airport which expects over two million customers in 2022.
The new schedule includes 25 destinations, seven brand new routes and over 120 flights per week.
The record-breaking schedule includes sun getaways to Faro, Mallorca, Lanzarote and Tenerife, as well as seven new summer routes to Alghero (Sardinia), Pisa, Valencia, Venice, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Ryanair will also increase its investment at Cork Airport this summer with the basing of a third aircraft, representing a further $100m investment, bringing its total investment at the airport to $300m (€263,737,500). Ryanair also confirmed that it will create 30 new local jobs as a result of this additional aircraft.
Welcoming the announcement, Managing Director at Cork Airport Niall MacCarthy there is a huge pent-up demand for travel after the pandemic.
He said: “People really appreciate good friendly customer service and uncrowded, pleasant indoor spaces which they will find at Cork Airport. It has been a long wait, but we know that the travelling public across the south of Ireland will support these routes strongly.
“In that regard, we expect a 750 per cent increase in passenger traffic in 2022 versus 2021 and to welcome over two million passengers once again to our terminal in 2022. We thank Ryanair for this vote of confidence in Cork Airport.”
According to Mr MacCarthy, Ireland must maintain lower access costs to enable a competitive playing field with other EU regions and airports in the likes of Italy, Portugal, and Croatia who are all battling for the same, but diminishing pool of airline carriers in Europe.
The investment in Cork Airport by Ryanair was made possible by the Cork Airport Recovery Scheme (CRS), an aviation package allowing Ireland and regional airports such as Cork, to rebuild vital international connectivity following the devastating impact of the pandemic.
To celebrate the announcement, Ryanair has launched a limited-time seat sale with fares available from just €19.99 for travel until 22 October. It is advised to book early as seats are expected to go fast.
From Cork Airport, Ryanair DAC’s CEO, Eddie Wilson, said: “This is fantastic news for Cork Airport and the wider southwest region, with great outbound sun destinations to Spain, Portugal, and Italy, but also giving inbound tourism a much-needed boost, restoring vital connectivity and securing jobs in the wider tourism industry.
“If Ireland is to remain competitive versus other EU countries and airports in Italy, Portugal, Croatia, etc, DAA needs the Irish Government’s support to extend this temporary scheme at Dublin and Cork Airports until the end of winter 22/23 to ensure that as many Ryanair aircraft as possible remain based in Ireland this winter to support Irish inbound tourism and connectivity. This will ameliorate the damage caused by the pandemic.”