Wriggling, ducking and diving - looks like they are at it again at Cork Aiport!
Yesterday's Cork Evening Echo had a story on page two headed -Airlines reject air bridge proposals. The story explains how Cork Aiport passengers may be left out in the cold and wet when the airport completes the Euro 140 million new terminal next year.
The plan was to include the building of four air bridges. Cork says this is now in doubt as major users like Ryanair and Aer Lingus do not want to pay for airbridge facilities which would cost Euro 7.50 for thirty minutes of use.
Aer Rianta, the airport operator of Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports now say the contract with the builder of the new terminal at Cork is under review. Will one, two or more airbridges be built at Cork at all or will the providing of airbridges be completely abandoned?
Look like the management at Cork are trying to pass the buck to the airlines? Save some more money and give it to Shannon for even more waste? How many wettings have Cork management got in the ramp with this summer and had to accompany other passengers smoking and worse on the ramp walking to and from the more remote stands?
What if the money is not now spent on the building of the airbriges but they are sought for new transatlantic services etc in a few years time? How much will it then cost the airport user in increased taxes and charges?
It is not as if Cork has had a good summer. It has been a summer of disgrace what with the inactive ILS to 17, the diversions and the regular severe drenchings of passengers walking to and from remote stands and worst of all the three peak summer months of June, July and August have all seen dramatic fall offs in the number of passengers using the airport. Hardly a job well done?
