CORK - 5

[en2r]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

But do you think the money should be spent on something else?

Cat III, unless we want the next few winters to be repeats of the operational disaster that this winter has been.

[anna_list]

Fr Ork-lgw: 1 + 1 = 5 ?

It's a little early to be jumping to conclusions. There are still quite a number of FR flights that can't be booked after July 1st, including most of the PSA base and HHN-OPO.

FR's Cork schedule still doesn't 'work' after the retiming of the Dublin flights from 26th March, so something is definitely afoot. Not sure what though...

[Angry Rebel]

Originally Posted by en2r

Cat III, unless we want the next few winters to be repeats of the operational disaster that this winter has been.

I agree. Why is the tower being replaced? Are there technical reasons for it? If there aren't, the only immediate benefit I can think of is freeing up space airside and getting the tower across the field on currently underutilised land.

[fanatic1]

Angry Rebel

Yes, this does seem to be the only reason.

[anna_list]

Fr Ork - Lgw

FR ORK - LGW is now bookable through to the end of October.

Maybe we could resume this discussion in a few months time when FR are in the process of sorting out the Winter timetable?

[snipes]

Originally Posted by en2r

Cat III, unless we want the next few winters to be repeats of the operational disaster that this winter has been.

The thought of letting my 320 do a cat III autoland onto 17 in cork gives ME the willies.....

Never mind the pax...

[Tom the Tenor]

Talking about what gives you the willies on approach to Cork Airport. Well, it was more of the same last Thursday morning on the FR901 from Stansted to Cork with the Mrs, her Mum, her brother and myself as we had the ride of our lives on our early morning flight after having first checked in around 4.30 am! The storm begun whipping up goodo taxiing out to Stansted's runway 23 and the climbout up to about FL150/170 was a rollercoaster. We levelled off at FL320 & it was reasonably smooth until after our descent began into Cork with the captain advising that the winds were staying just within limits for an approach (to 17.)

Did not stay that way though as the crew threw away the approach shortly after becoming established around 1500 feet when the winds went out of limits at 260 degrees, 30 kts gusting 42 kts. Got a good view of the airfield in the go around! Stayed in the Nagl hold for a bit until we were told the wind had abated & the captain decided to shoot one more approach at Cork. We got much closer this time but at approx 700/800 feet on finals I got a grand view of the extended centreline and lit runway ahead and remember we were were sitting in about Row 18 for the flight and not on the flightdeck! The winds got us once more and it was 260/28 kts with a gust of 37 knots, up to 44 knots.

That was that for Cork and after a 2 hours & 2 minutes flight from Stansted our flight, FR901, eventually landed at Shannon where surface transport to Cork was provided. It was good to land to be sure as even the approach to runway 24 at snn was still fairly rough even though we were into the wind. Spoke with the Captain briefly and he agreed that runway 25 at Cork would be good. What chance of that though? For all we know one of these days there may be grand plan in Cork to close runway 25/07 and put in a few warehouses instead to complement the Business Park across the way and that would be the end of the occasional EI A320 landing on runway 25 in the strong westerly winds.

Makes you think does it not? If runways are to be closed why not shut 17/35 and put up as many warehouses and business parks as you like as long as you lay down an extra 4,000 feet at the end of 25/07? We cant be as sensible as that though, now can we, as that would be getting something right and not arseways and we just could not have that at Cork Airport!

[ryan2000]

Ryan2000

Some would even say close the airport, rezone the land for housing and with the small fortune in profit build a new one in a more suitable location.

Only this time make sure that the main runway is not at 90 degrees to the prevailing wind and that a CAT3 ILS can be installed without countless excuses as to why it can't happen.

[A319-100]

Heard a vicious rumour that EasyJet may be re-ignitng their interest in Cork. I for one would be a very happy man if that were the case!

[EI-DHC]

A319-100

Were any possible routes mentioned in this vicious rumour?

[ryan2000]

EZY and Cork

This would almost certainly provoke a reponse from Ryanair.

[A319-100]

Scotland to Cork, Edi or Gla, Not the most reliable source mind you!

[840]

Glasgow could make sense considering it is unserved from Cork at the moment.

However, Ryanair would respond to it. It might make more sense to simultaneously launch a number (Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle and Luton maybe). It could give them marketing synergies and would make it more difficult for Ryanair to attack them with their single Cork-based aircraft.
Slight change of topic. Jet2 have increased the number of Cork-Newcastle flights planned for next summer from 4 to 5 weekly. I suppose it all helps.

[A319-100]

Edinburgh may also be a runner as it is only served by Aer Arann and is quite a popular destination. EasyJet have also recently announced expansion plans in Edi & Gla. Edi getting new aircraft soon and new routes announced with more to follow!

[Tom the Tenor]

The only way it might possibly work for easyJet at Cork again might be if they were to do a Ryanair and base an aeroplane. Now that would get everyone's attention. Hire some locally based cabin/flight crews and techies and get their photos in D'Echo to get some good local publicity. After all, both FR and EI seem to be not keen on basing any more aeroplanes locally so there does appear to be a tiny window of opportunity there and a 149 seater jet might be potentially the best possible platform anyway for a Cork based opeation. Go the whole way and set up under an Irish AOC, paint the colours green and there you are, the perfect rival for FR and yet another headache to have to deal with for Cork Airport!

Even a seasonal type operation would be okay to complement year rounders. Anything from LGW, BFS, EDI, BRS, NCL, BRU, DUS, GVA, SZG or MUC, VLC, Venice etc. Perhaps, for cities and markets the size of Cork aircraft the size of ERJ 195s might be even better for Cork. Am I correct in concluding a 99 seat aircraft would need just a cabin crew of two F/As?

It may be argued that the FR 189 seaters are probably too big for any likely routes out of Cork apart from the London Airports?

[brian_dromey]

Originally Posted by Tom the Tenor

there does appear to be a tiny window of opportunity there and a 149 seater jet might be potentially the best possible platform anyway for a Cork based opeation.

Anything from LGW, BFS, EDI, BRS, NCL, BRU, DUS, GVA, SZG or MUC, VLC, Venice etc. Perhaps, for cities and markets the size of Cork aircraft the size of ERJ 195s might be even better for Cork. Am I correct in concluding a 99 seat aircraft would need just a cabin crew of two F/As?

EasyJets A319s have 156seats. IMO It would be more likely to see any based a/c as a 319 as the 737s are being phased out of the U2 fleet. I think that STN is the only 737 base right now, NCL, BRS, etc have all moved to teh 319, as far as I know.

With regards to FAs its one per 50 pax, so 100=2 hostes. Easyjet have had to put an extra CC, for a total of 4, on its 319s bcause they managed to ram 156 seats(although rarely pax!!!) into those 319s.

I think that if U2 were to come back to ORK they would either base an aircraft or two here, or else have a numer of destinations from other bases. As far as I know U2 have a pair of 319s unassigned to a base for delivery this year, so you never know!

[A319-100]

I think EasyJet would be a success at Cork. The 319 has 156 seats and would be easier fill than the 189 seats on a FR. I believe that easy did not leave cork because of ryanair particularly, I am sure they did not help, I just think they had bigger fish to fry out of LGW. I dont think they were getting a great deal from the Cork Airport Authority.

I think with the right deal Easy may re-appear in eire again, after all they have 200 odd aircraft to put somewhere in the next decade!

I think it would be good for cork and good for easy. Fingers crossed. These are obviously just my humble thoughts and opinions, plus a little bit of wishful thinking on my part.

We will see I guess.

For what its worth I think that Easy are in a different league to ryanair from a customer and employee point of view.

Just wondering how Aer Arann are doing in Cork at the moment. When are their new arcraft arriving?

Just for info only 737 bases are Belfast, Newcastle and Luton. cheers

[CCR]

The only likely expansion of EasyJet in Ireland this year will be from Belfast.

[Tom the Tenor]

Yes, guess it is very much a long shot to see easyJet in Cork again but you can never say never. One aeroplane with the right kind of local branding and headed up by the right hometown personality and it could work for easyJet. A key to doing business in Cork in my opinion. This idea has so far been lost on by the bigwigs in FR due to their preoccupation with their big snn base and their Dublin HQ.

Would love to know what happened to get Gatwick from Cork back on line from July? Very welcome decision from Ryanair, of course and if anything they might restore the 2nd daily flight whilst they are at it even if it was just for the summer. I might not be the smartest at assessing the yields of this or that flight but 160 or 170 load on a Gatwick flight got to be a whole lot better than a 60/70 load on a Dublin?

Then again, what do I know!?

[ryan2000]

Why would Easyjet draw Ryanair on them just to fly to Cork. Unfortunately the vast majority of people in the Cork area flew with FR and EI even when Easyjet were cheaper.

It would be great to see them back but with three Irish airlines based at Cork they better be prepared for a fight.