Originally Posted by
Runway_approach
But if they are sustainable why isn't any airline operating them ?
That's the golden question isn't it?
I'm not entirely sure of the answer, but these are what I'd imagine to be some of the reasons :
1. Very few Airlines will touch Cork and Shannon due to Aer Lingus and Ryanair who will frighten them off.
2. The high airport fees in Cork and previously in Shannon.
3. Lack of Awareness of routes and airports. Many people all over Ireland (slightly ignorantly) think Dublin straight away and book with only Aer Lingus and Ryanair. It's alot of the problem in Ireland, lots of people don't look around and compare. We are no longer in a country of government monopolies.
4. As you pointed out earlier, the sheer around of airports on the west coast. In the republic, there is 1 airport on the east coast and 5 on the west coast (inc cork) and there was previously 7! There is no need for Donegal or Kerry airports, the only thing keeping them going is the PSO contract. All of Donegal is very near Derry Airport which has more services and all of Kerry is very near Shannon and Cork.
If anyone wants to add to the above please.