CORK - 5
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All those white boards, is it? Might be able to see them from the air - a Cork solution to a CATIII substitute! Afraid the views went out the door for the most part anyway when the old terminal closed up shop.
A few ol' white boards gone up makes the viewing only a tiny bit worse than what it has been. If you want to see the aeroplanes I recommend the driving test centre and environs out around the Doughcloyne area as long as runway 17 is active for landings but forget it in low visibility operations. Got a great view of an Astraeus 757 from there a few weeks ago. By jove, was she close!
Speaking of low viz heard that an Aer Arann ATR did a low viz approach last weekend - guess she was the brand new aircraft? Good to hear. Without wanting to be in your face too spotterish Cork had the visit of a Brazilian bizjet during the week for a night, a variant of the Citation class. Maybe a proving flight for my much longed for IT to Fortaleza!
Cork's Evening Echo newpaper carried a story a few days which deserves a few lines. It seems XL are going to base an aircraft at Cork next summer over the weekends and one new route mentioned is to Santorini in Greece. A popular place with the backpackers ten or twenty years ago which is supposed to be smartened up a bit now. The newspaper said more routes would be announced a little later on in the year. That is fine but they would want to get cracking with it?
A few ol' white boards gone up makes the viewing only a tiny bit worse than what it has been. If you want to see the aeroplanes I recommend the driving test centre and environs out around the Doughcloyne area as long as runway 17 is active for landings but forget it in low visibility operations. Got a great view of an Astraeus 757 from there a few weeks ago. By jove, was she close!
Speaking of low viz heard that an Aer Arann ATR did a low viz approach last weekend - guess she was the brand new aircraft? Good to hear. Without wanting to be in your face too spotterish Cork had the visit of a Brazilian bizjet during the week for a night, a variant of the Citation class. Maybe a proving flight for my much longed for IT to Fortaleza!
Cork's Evening Echo newpaper carried a story a few days which deserves a few lines. It seems XL are going to base an aircraft at Cork next summer over the weekends and one new route mentioned is to Santorini in Greece. A popular place with the backpackers ten or twenty years ago which is supposed to be smartened up a bit now. The newspaper said more routes would be announced a little later on in the year. That is fine but they would want to get cracking with it?
Last edited by Tom the Tenor; 10th Oct 2007 at 18:47.
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Exel made noises about transatlantic to Orlando from Cork in 2008 but that was in the Autumn of 2006 when 2008 seemed far away, maybe Cork could borrow a line from the musical "ANNIE", "Transatlantic Transatlantic you're always a year away!"
Seriously the amount of airlines who talk about operating new routes the year after next is amazing, a great way of getting free publicity without having to put your money where their mouth is.
Seriously the amount of airlines who talk about operating new routes the year after next is amazing, a great way of getting free publicity without having to put your money where their mouth is.
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That's great, ryan2000, "Transatlantic, Transatlantic, You're always a year awaaay!" Just brilliant! Sumps up the chancers all right.
You might have an idea there for a Cork Airport musical!
Cue choir!
You might have an idea there for a Cork Airport musical!
Cue choir!
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Seems that Cork may get additional Jet2 services in the near future.
Blackpool and Leeds seem to be front runners, at the minute, but perhaps BFS is in with an outside chance too....
Any new routes and/or frequencies are good news
Current shcedules are 206 fligths to the UK & Ireland per week, to 17 destinations. Not too shabby at all!
Brian.
Blackpool and Leeds seem to be front runners, at the minute, but perhaps BFS is in with an outside chance too....
Any new routes and/or frequencies are good news
Current shcedules are 206 fligths to the UK & Ireland per week, to 17 destinations. Not too shabby at all!
Brian.
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From the Sunday Times yesterday....
Thoughts?
Is Hunt on for the privatisation of Cork airport?
Aine Coffey
366 words
14 October 2007
The Sunday Times
(c) 2007 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
COLIN HUNT must be racking his brains to come up with projects for Macquarie Bank, where the economic guru has landed the plum job of division director "responsible for its Irish corporate advisory activities".
We have a top suggestion. Hunt may have no obvious background in corporate finance, but he has valuable assets apart from his acumen. One is his experience working with Martin Cullen, the former transport minister, to whom Hunt became an adviser in 2004 after quitting as director of research at Goodbody Stockbrokers.
Then there is Hunt's familiarity with Brian Cowen, the finance minister, who appointed him as an economic adviser just over a year ago.
High on Hunt's radar must be potential infrastructure investments, since the Australian bank is one of the world's biggest private owners and operators of airports. This year, Macquarie and the Dublin Airport Authority sold their combined stake in Birmingham airport for more than E600m. The bank has also approached Aer Rianta in the past.
Eureka! What better plan than drawing on these connections to back a privatisation of Cork airport, thus ending the row that has dragged on since 2003 over who is liable for the E220m debt arising from Cork's new terminal and other developments.
Cork airport's board remains adamant the state promised it debt-free separation from Dublin following Aer Rianta's break-up. A consultants' report presented to the board in July recommended it carry about E50m of the debt. Macquarie would probably be looking at a potential price tag for the airport of E250m excluding that debt, according to estimates.
For now, the southerners seem to be sticking to their rebellious guns about the debt question. Board members have also raised concerns about pension liabilities and the cost of a runway for transatlantic expansion.
A meeting has yet to take place between Noel Dempsey, the new transport minister, and the Cork rebels. What with Aer Lingus at war, and panic at Shannon, privatisation may be the last thing on Dempsey's mind, but surely Hunt can convince him otherwise.
(C) Times Newspapers Ltd, 2007
Thoughts?
Is Hunt on for the privatisation of Cork airport?
Aine Coffey
366 words
14 October 2007
The Sunday Times
(c) 2007 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
COLIN HUNT must be racking his brains to come up with projects for Macquarie Bank, where the economic guru has landed the plum job of division director "responsible for its Irish corporate advisory activities".
We have a top suggestion. Hunt may have no obvious background in corporate finance, but he has valuable assets apart from his acumen. One is his experience working with Martin Cullen, the former transport minister, to whom Hunt became an adviser in 2004 after quitting as director of research at Goodbody Stockbrokers.
Then there is Hunt's familiarity with Brian Cowen, the finance minister, who appointed him as an economic adviser just over a year ago.
High on Hunt's radar must be potential infrastructure investments, since the Australian bank is one of the world's biggest private owners and operators of airports. This year, Macquarie and the Dublin Airport Authority sold their combined stake in Birmingham airport for more than E600m. The bank has also approached Aer Rianta in the past.
Eureka! What better plan than drawing on these connections to back a privatisation of Cork airport, thus ending the row that has dragged on since 2003 over who is liable for the E220m debt arising from Cork's new terminal and other developments.
Cork airport's board remains adamant the state promised it debt-free separation from Dublin following Aer Rianta's break-up. A consultants' report presented to the board in July recommended it carry about E50m of the debt. Macquarie would probably be looking at a potential price tag for the airport of E250m excluding that debt, according to estimates.
For now, the southerners seem to be sticking to their rebellious guns about the debt question. Board members have also raised concerns about pension liabilities and the cost of a runway for transatlantic expansion.
A meeting has yet to take place between Noel Dempsey, the new transport minister, and the Cork rebels. What with Aer Lingus at war, and panic at Shannon, privatisation may be the last thing on Dempsey's mind, but surely Hunt can convince him otherwise.
(C) Times Newspapers Ltd, 2007
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I've said in the past that the solution is to sell Cork Airport while the DAA retains the debt and use the proceeds of the sale to pay it down. The added benefit is that you end up with people running the airport who are there because they are able to run a profitable aviation business rather than because of their ties to any political party or business cabal.
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I would certainly support the privatisation of ORK, but I would have some concerns, especially with regards to airport charges. That said, the Auzzies know how to run an airport, and there certinaly would be no shortage of cash to develop the airport.
Costs will have to be driven down, revenues up and passenger numbers would need to be increased too. The problem is, there is not a lot of space in the terminal to create more reatail area, unless the toilets, business lounge and bar were moved up a level, which should be possible, if the will were there.
However, on the upside an additional €50 million, or perhaps less would do all this, expand the apron (or knock the old terminal) for business jets and extend the turning circle of the runway. The IAA should be picking up the bill for the new ATC tower.
For €250 million, or less depending on how much the DAA will sell for, the Auzzies would get an awful amount of airport and oppertunity for their cash. I dont know if the DAA will want to sell cheap, however, as they might be very afraid of such a facility in the hands of pros.
Brian.
Costs will have to be driven down, revenues up and passenger numbers would need to be increased too. The problem is, there is not a lot of space in the terminal to create more reatail area, unless the toilets, business lounge and bar were moved up a level, which should be possible, if the will were there.
However, on the upside an additional €50 million, or perhaps less would do all this, expand the apron (or knock the old terminal) for business jets and extend the turning circle of the runway. The IAA should be picking up the bill for the new ATC tower.
For €250 million, or less depending on how much the DAA will sell for, the Auzzies would get an awful amount of airport and oppertunity for their cash. I dont know if the DAA will want to sell cheap, however, as they might be very afraid of such a facility in the hands of pros.
Brian.
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Great last few lines you have there, Brian. The DAA have the promised land of the Dublin Airport cash cow and Cork is no more than a boil on the ass of the DAA empire. The DAA's only interest in Cork is that the Cork debt issue might slow down a little the empire building of new terminals and new runway at Dublin. Cork will get little else from the DAA for a long time other than weekly pay packets for the crowd on the Cork payroll.
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Cork-Dublin
Has anyone else noticed that RE are cutting Cork-Dublin to 5 flights daily, the same as Ryanair with the 7.50 and 10.50 flights cut. Are we losing an RE aircraft? Only two aircraft are needed for the morning schedule, but 3 are needed for the afternoon. I heard they had crew shortages so maybe they're trying to cut out one of the morning shifts or else it may do the morning somewhere else and fly in for the afternoon.
The idiotic Ryanair timetable for the winter on the Cork-Dublin route, which saw 2 of the 5 daily flights from each airport departing at EXACTLY the same time has finally been changed just days before the start of the winter schedule. The 5th flight operated by a Dublin based aircraft had been changed to mid afternoon. This now provides a very well balanced timetable of flight with flights from Cork at 7.40, 10.10, 14.30, 17.05 and 19.35 and flights from Dublin at 8.55, 11.35, 13.15, 18.20 and 20.50. This will mean that they will provide a much stronger fight against Aer Arann, especially given RE's cuts which mean RE have no flights between the 7AM flight and the 15.30 flight, rather a long period with no flights. However the first flight is still not suitable for getting into Dublin for 9AM, and the last flight is rather early (20.50). Aer Arann will be able to start using the 'first flight out last flight in' slogan again. Their 7AM flight is the only flight that allows you to get into Dublin for 9, and even at that it could be tight the way Dublin traffic is.
Are we seeing the beginning of the end for RE on the Cork-Dublin route?
The idiotic Ryanair timetable for the winter on the Cork-Dublin route, which saw 2 of the 5 daily flights from each airport departing at EXACTLY the same time has finally been changed just days before the start of the winter schedule. The 5th flight operated by a Dublin based aircraft had been changed to mid afternoon. This now provides a very well balanced timetable of flight with flights from Cork at 7.40, 10.10, 14.30, 17.05 and 19.35 and flights from Dublin at 8.55, 11.35, 13.15, 18.20 and 20.50. This will mean that they will provide a much stronger fight against Aer Arann, especially given RE's cuts which mean RE have no flights between the 7AM flight and the 15.30 flight, rather a long period with no flights. However the first flight is still not suitable for getting into Dublin for 9AM, and the last flight is rather early (20.50). Aer Arann will be able to start using the 'first flight out last flight in' slogan again. Their 7AM flight is the only flight that allows you to get into Dublin for 9, and even at that it could be tight the way Dublin traffic is.
Are we seeing the beginning of the end for RE on the Cork-Dublin route?
Last edited by en2r; 22nd Oct 2007 at 19:10.
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I would not say it is the end for RE, they will continue to focus on bsuiness passengers and those wanting to get a full day in DUB. In the long term RE will have their niche in attracting the clintele that value the 'value added' benifits RE provide, while FR will continue to attract passengers off the train.
Certainly, however, RE have realised that ORK-DUB is no loner the money maker it may once have been, and they are diversifing their flight portfolios, perticularly from the likes of Galway, Kerry, Waterford, etc to London and the UK, where they can build up a market free from competiton, at least in the short to medium term. I would expect RE to continue to have a sizeable operation at ORK into the future, but major growth is likely to come from other airports, I guess ORK is in a place where its a little too big for RE, but not big enough to justify 2x daily jet flights on most routes.
Still, on the last count, ORK offered ~203 weekly flights to 17 UK & Ireland destinations, its a pity the CAA never tell people that!
Certainly, however, RE have realised that ORK-DUB is no loner the money maker it may once have been, and they are diversifing their flight portfolios, perticularly from the likes of Galway, Kerry, Waterford, etc to London and the UK, where they can build up a market free from competiton, at least in the short to medium term. I would expect RE to continue to have a sizeable operation at ORK into the future, but major growth is likely to come from other airports, I guess ORK is in a place where its a little too big for RE, but not big enough to justify 2x daily jet flights on most routes.
Still, on the last count, ORK offered ~203 weekly flights to 17 UK & Ireland destinations, its a pity the CAA never tell people that!
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It would be a pity to see the 07:50 go - it had 46 yesterday (and 64 on the 13:25 ex Dublin) and is a handy flight in-between the 6.30 and 7.30 trains (in terms of arrival in Dublin).
We had a walk to stand 2 yesterday in the rain and there was a lot of muttering...
We had a walk to stand 2 yesterday in the rain and there was a lot of muttering...
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Fingers crossed Cork doesn't end up as another Shannon - hopefully RE reducing their frequency on Dublin isn't the start of a slippery slope in the face of a low cost competitor willing to buy market share. RE have been good to Cork and developed there when other airlines deserted it.
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Fingers crossed Cork doesn't end up as another Shannon - hopefully RE reducing their frequency on Dublin isn't the start of a slippery slope in the face of a low cost competitor willing to buy market share. RE have been good to Cork and developed there when other airlines deserted it.
Bristol - could easily be picked up by Ryanair if Bristol does as expected get a third aircraft early next year. This would also have negative consequences for Cork-Cardiff, cardiff isn't that far from Bristol!
Edinburgh - RE's best performing route in terms of loads, and probably the most vulnerable. Now up to a full twice daily service yet despite high fares, loads are always sky high. Aer Lingus, Jet2, BMI Baby or even Ryanair could very easily swoop in and steal this very profitable route.
Leeds Bradford - a fairly obvious one for Jet2 given their massive presence at LBA.
Belfast - Ryanair could quite easily set up a Cork-Belfast route.
What does that leave, Dublin, Cardiff, Southampton which is seasonal and the seasonal French routes. Would this be enough to keep them in Cork?
It would be a sad day for Cork if we were to lose RE, they invested in Cork when noone else would. However I think their routes are so vulnerable that a scale-back at least is almost inevitable. Especially if FR smell blood with the reductions on Dublin and try to stick the knife in further.
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In some ways Aer Arann at Cork has bucked the trend of old style commuter airlines being squeezed by the low costs jet carriers. They saw Jet Magic off Edinburgh and have held out for almost two years with Ryanair on Dublin. However their UK routes are very vulnerable, for instance they vanished from BHX-ORK once EI joined BMI Baby on the route. 2008 could be a watershed year for their Cork operations.
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Lately Aer Arann has moved away from the three or four times weekly routes to those that can be operated on at least a daily basis. I can see the logic in terms of attracting higher yield passengers, but unfortunately it ends up concentrating on those routes that are most vulnerable to LoCo competition.
They would have undoubtedly had Southampton to themselves, with only the minor prospect of Ryanair launching a Bournemouth route if they really were out to get them. Similarly, Nantes is a route they could dominate if they wanted to. Didn't Jetmagic operate that as a year round route and find it was one of their most profitable?
They would have undoubtedly had Southampton to themselves, with only the minor prospect of Ryanair launching a Bournemouth route if they really were out to get them. Similarly, Nantes is a route they could dominate if they wanted to. Didn't Jetmagic operate that as a year round route and find it was one of their most profitable?
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Yes, Jetmagic continued Nantes into the winter of 2003 and into January, 2004 before ceasing operations. It was a great route.
Beats me why RE wont operate Southampton throughout the year. Cant be any longer a flight than going to Edinburgh. Better still go to Luton all together and eek away some yield from FR on Cork-London?
For once Cork Airport seems to have it's head screwed on right! I nearly fell off the chair at work this morning when I heard a radio ad in Polish promoting flights to Poland ending with the line in English of "Cork Airport, going places."
Certainly got my attention along with with that of the people around me and that included some Polish people. Good ad. Hats off to Cork Airport marketing on this one!
Beats me why RE wont operate Southampton throughout the year. Cant be any longer a flight than going to Edinburgh. Better still go to Luton all together and eek away some yield from FR on Cork-London?
For once Cork Airport seems to have it's head screwed on right! I nearly fell off the chair at work this morning when I heard a radio ad in Polish promoting flights to Poland ending with the line in English of "Cork Airport, going places."
Certainly got my attention along with with that of the people around me and that included some Polish people. Good ad. Hats off to Cork Airport marketing on this one!