CORK - 5

[840]

I wasn't so much proposing the building of a new runway as looking at the practicalities involved in extending 07/25.

If any money does become available, it is a low priority below extending the apron space, extending 17/35 and getting CAT III in. Which can probably be read as not in my lifetime...

[Tom the Tenor]

As it happens I was in contact today with the Director of Elections of a principal Irish Labour Party candidate in the upcoming General Elections. They have conducted a well focused canvas on the doorsteps in Cork since February, 2006 and not on any occasion has any voter at all made a comment about Cork Airport. Not one.

Granted, that the social issues of health, security/policing, education/childcare, mortgages/cost of living etc is what counts in a lot of people's minds and pockets but the fact that no questions or remarks were put about the airport is revealing on how little it matters to many Cork people especially in the light of the pretty regular media coverage there was at different times last year about the new terminal and the associated debt.

Looks like the government, Minister Cullen, the DAA/CAA are going to be able to get away with anything they want at Cork Airport?

[ryan2000]

Ryan2000

All is not well at the airport though. If I was working for the CAA, I wouldn't be complacent about my future. Costs are going through the roof.

[RE72]

BMI baby @ ORK

Could someone please help me, im just inquiring about the loads BMI baby achieve on there ORK -

• MAN
• BHX

Routes, As i notice BMI are alot more expensive than EI when booking within a few days of departure and i believe the EI and WW departures are within 5 minutes of each other somedays.

Thanks

[ryan2000]

Cork BHX

BMI is well ahead of EI on BHX during November at 75%,EI around 56% but BMI BABY has a Daily service while EI op just 4 per week. Of course yields are the unknown factor.

[Charlie Roy]

RE72

Anytime I check prices for MAN (in advance!) BMI are always cheaper than EI.
And, in fact, BMI charge less taxes than EI. So a BMI base-fare of 20euro is actually cheaper than an Aer Lingus base fare of 16euro (for example), and with BMI you get to check in a bag for free too!

[en2r]

BMI Baby seem to be holding up well to the competition from Aer Lingus on Cork-Birmingham. Hopefully the cycle of a new operator driving the existing operator off the route has ended. First Aer Arann drove Flybe off the route, then Baby drove Aer Arann off the route, before Aer Lingus entered the fray trying to drive Baby off the route. They haven't succeeded so far. However how will the travelling public take to the new Summer timetables which has much later Birmingham and Manchester flights. The Cork-Birmingham leg doesn't get in until almost eleven at night. That won't be popular with those from the West Midlands area who may have to drive home from BHX.

[chrism20]

Originally Posted by Charlie Roy

RE72

Anytime I check prices for MAN (in advance!) BMI are always cheaper than EI.
And, in fact, BMI charge less taxes than EI. So a BMI base-fare of 20euro is actually cheaper than an Aer Lingus base fare of 16euro (for example), and with BMI you get to check in a bag for free too!

BMI do charge for baggage on the baby services (BHX, MAN)

Only the LBA has no baggage charge

[eick320]

ryanair pull off lgw ???

The neil prendaville show this morning on local radio 96fm reported that fr has pulled off the lgw route, the conversation was about the number of flts canx or dis-continued ex ork. Has anyone more def info

[Provance]

wow - didnt see that one coming ? Is there any confirmation that FR are going to pull out of the Gatwick route. I would love to see EI uptake the route or see the return of EZ

[840]

Originally Posted by eick320

The neil prendaville show this morning on local radio 96fm reported that fr has pulled off the lgw route, the conversation was about the number of flts canx or dis-continued ex ork. Has anyone more def info

Was this just said by a random punter on a phone-in or was it said by someone who might know what they're talking about?

At present, Ryanair are still selling tickets on the route until the end of June. Although, perhaps ominously, they are selling Cork-Stansted and Dublin-Gatwick tickets into July.

[en2r]

Originally Posted by eick320

The neil prendaville show this morning on local radio 96fm reported that fr has pulled off the lgw route, the conversation was about the number of flts canx or dis-continued ex ork. Has anyone more def info

This is ridiculous. We had five flights daily last year, and now we could end up with no service. There must surely be demand for one flight at the least. Easyjet probably won't come back after what happened the last time.

[CCR]

If it's true, it's an opportunity for the 2 other carriers based in Cork, Aer Lingus and Aer Arann or perhaps BMI Baby or Easyjet could also incorporate the route on their summer schedules. The demand clearly exists for this route.

[Provance]

Is the Gatwick route opperated by an ORK based aircraft ?

If so where are FR planning on flying t o instead

[840]

Originally Posted by Provance

Is the Gatwick route opperated by an ORK based aircraft ?

Yes

I'd still take the Neil Prendeville Show as a very unreliable source. However, I could see Ryanair dropping Gatwick and operating ORK-DUB from Dublin, while withdrawing the Cork-based aircraft anyway.

Aer Arann are the only operator that I could imagine taking up the route in the short-term. BMIBaby have limited marketing ability at both ends of the route and have already pulled off it once. Aer Lingus have no spare aircraft capacity this summer.

[ElNino]

This is ridiculous. We had five flights daily last year, and now we could end up with no service.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the airline that "loves competition." You don't think for a moment that ryanair ever intended to keep a high level of service to gatwick once they'd run Easy out of town? If they ever get EI, expect similar wholesale chopping of routes all across their Irish network. Competition for fr is very definitely not about the consumers interests.

[ryan2000]

Gatwick

Ryanair's cynicism will have reached a new level if they withdraw from Cork Gatwick having got Easyjet off the route.

We'll then be back to the 2003 level of service on Cork London. High yields and not enough capacity. One good reason not to let Ryanair get their hands on Aerlingus.

[Charlie Roy]

Gatwick

I think we're all getting carried away here...

Whoever was talking on 96FM possibly said "Ryanair pulling the Gatwick service" when they meant to say "Easyjet".

Normally the Neil Prendeville show will be repeated in the very early hours of tomorrow morning.

[brian_dromey]

Ork-lgw

We all know the only reason that U2 are not on the route is because of the presence of FR, and if easyJet were to return I think we could expect a repeat of the former tricks. However maybe easy could use this to their advantage? Especially if FR came back on the route.

FR have already pulled the NOC-LGW route, I think SNN-LGW still survives, but how committed FR is to the route remians to be seen. To be fair LGW is the orphan in the FR route system, STN suits them much better IMO.

On the subject of WW on MAN and BHX, be aware that WW does not include a credit card fee until the last minute, and I think its 7.50 EUR (5 GBP) so the differences between the fares remains the same. eg 19 EUR on EI finishes up at about 54 EUR while the WW FARE OF 30.99 ends up at about 60EUR. So the taxes are about the same really.

[fanatic1]

No, it's true.

The flights are unbookable for next summer (June/July) and every other flight is, I'd say it not a matter of uploading schedules.

And...Cork Airport will recieve a new control tower! Yes...it's due.
The Irish Aviation Authority are looking for tenders.

Saw it on a site, Irish Airport News. Search for it in Google.
But do you think the money should be spent on something else?