Shannon has achieved a lot, especially on transatlantic services.
Cork, unlike Shannon and Knock actually has a large population to serve and should be doing a lot better but continues to under-perform as its management is the Dublin Airport Authority who are focused on furthering the success of Dublin airport.
There is obviously an issue with the management of Cork airport if Dublin, Shannon and Knock are all enjoying growth and Cork continues to decline in a growing economy.
There is also a conflict of interest for the Dublin Airport Authority managing Cork airport. The main competitor to Cork airport isn`t the 3 other airports in Munster.
It is Dublin airport as the hourly AirCoach and Gobe buses between Dublin airport and Cork demonstrate.
SNN-PHL and ORD were announced before it was officially Independent. Aer Lingus B757 service have delivered a minimal more increase in capacity and US and UA are very peak season.
Cork-US will not happen medium term so the success is really not a comparison to Cork.
Knock's growth is bucket and spade/UK while Shannon's down to Ryaniar and its only significant this year because of the large announcement. We won't be seeing the big 20% growth
PR machine next year unless Ryaniar decide to delver several hundred thousand more passengers which won't happen.
The fact still remains that while SNN can offer airlines any deal they have yet to attract a single carrier other than Ryanair. This is significant and if Cork had the same powers what puts them in a better position? Nothing!
Getting such a service would be very low frequency and have no effect on Dublin. Has SNN's new route effected Dublin, no!
Corks debt is an issue however with SNN trying to cut their staff costs ORK will have to do the exact same to compete and essentially they are both competing for Ryanair if they were on there own and that's a race to the bottom and may not end well.
Believe it or not huge numbers use the express bus service between city and city only.
The D.A.A. frequently point to the route incentive scheme at Cork as evidence that they are working to promote the airport. However not one new airline has availed of the scheme since 2006.
The problems are compounded by the fact that Cork is now in the grip of just two airlines. In the past it had a portfolio of up to 8 scheduled carriers and a wide range of tour operators operating Charter flights. That was a far healthier position to be in. The level of serious competition between airlines at Cork is now extremely low.
The BRU route used it. I do believe that FR moving onto DUB-BRU had something to do with ORK-BRU being scrapped however EI were vocal about the route and how it had to be used to remain viable and if profitable it was probably marginal.
The comments from local TD/MEP's were unbelievable and should be of concern to the locals as they clearly have little intelligence and you voted them to represent the region.
The same schemes at ORK are used at DUB by the way.
From a strictly business point of view I suppose the DAA feel that any growth at Cork will be largely at Dublin's expense so why be over generous with incentives and charges.
Not sore sure, minimal maybe but nothing of any significance.
An airport like BRS many connections to major hubs/cities in Europe are all operated by 49 seats aircraft which speaks volumes as the city is twice the size of Cork and has a much larger surrounding population.
Independence may help but it will not increase traffic unless they can attract carriers something which other airports can't bar Ryanair.
Wizz Air going was the biggest blow to Cork. If SNN had being freed sooner then they may be still here. Getting a route or two back would be a big benefit.