If Ryanair are to drop LGW which will sure be a shame I guess it would be just too much to hope they would be really creative and go somewhere really new from Cork rather than trying to muscle in on some of the existing type business. They hardly will though as much of their route network is now so well served from their large base at Shannon and they will not to compromise that in any way? The best we can hope for is that the CAA will be on their guard and will want to keep the present routes safe. Let us hope they do.
It should have been mentioned a little before now but with New Year etc it was kind of forgotten but there was a very interesting landing at Cork last Sunday on New Year's Eve. There was a 40 kt wind blowing across 17/35 as the EI857 returned from Alicante so the flight did an ILS to 17 down to 1200 feet before breaking off for a landing to runway 25! Remember, runway 25/07 at Cork is just over 4000 feet long! I understand the A320 was fairly light at the time so whatever were the criteria for a landing to runway 25 in the prevailing conditions of the time were met.
Food for thought though? Runway 25/07 should arguably be the main runway at Cork as it would suit the prevailing winds and even more so bearing in minds the recent gales that caused a number of diversions. Cork Airport should have a flag day to collect a few Euro for a few airbridges and for an extension to runway 25.
Have also heard that EI are keen on using Stand 9T for overnight parking from next week after CSA quit Cork. It looks like they will get it too but one of the conditions is that they will have to use the airbridge and there are reports that staff from EI have recently been trained up on the use of same.