CORK - 5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aer Lingus
Did anyone else read the Article in the examiner today about Cork airport. Enda Corneille had ruled out Aer Lingus starting any transatlantic routes from Cork in the near future. There was also some interesting facts about the Cork base. Every single Aer Lingus route from Cork is profitable, they've had 70% passenger growth since 2002 and they employ 270 people at Cork airport. The 270 figure shows just how overstaffed Shannon was before the axing of Heathrow. I remember reading they employed about 520 people at Shannon (nearly double what they employ at Cork) despite the fact they carried about half a million less passengers than Cork. I reckon the wage cost per passenger of the Shannon base
was at least 3 times what it is at Cork. I don't know how many people they employ now since I know they laid off people when Heathrow was pulled but I'd bet its still more than the 270 employed at Cork.
was at least 3 times what it is at Cork. I don't know how many people they employ now since I know they laid off people when Heathrow was pulled but I'd bet its still more than the 270 employed at Cork.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aer Lingus
Yes, but wasn't it pointed out at the time that the SNN number included those working in the A330 hangar there? On that basis it's not possible to deduce the staff/passenger ratio.
The productivity of Aer Lingus at Cork must certainly be improving as additional routes are added, though!
The productivity of Aer Lingus at Cork must certainly be improving as additional routes are added, though!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it is fair to say ORK has been very, very good to EI. I think the basing of that second A320 at ORK to operate CDG & AMS was the start of a very profitable venture for EI. As far as I can see the fleet is now pretty much deployed as much as possible so if there is to be more growth EI are going to need to put another A320 into ORK. Possibly they could operate the 721/722 which originate in LHR with that aircraft as well as more frequency to the uk if WW do pull out.
I do believe EI will eventually operate long-haul from ORK. But I think it would be a very delecate matter. As EI would almost certainly pull out of SNN entirely if that were to happen. Of course AMS LHR and CDG may be effected by such a move, I have a feeling that EI does quite well outof the connectig traffic on these routes.
I do believe EI will eventually operate long-haul from ORK. But I think it would be a very delecate matter. As EI would almost certainly pull out of SNN entirely if that were to happen. Of course AMS LHR and CDG may be effected by such a move, I have a feeling that EI does quite well outof the connectig traffic on these routes.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to say I would be surprised if WW were pulling out. Apparently they are currently growing BHX and planning to double the size at MAN from 5 to 10 737s. The loads on the MAN services have always been good and although yield has suffered since EI came on the route the loads have gone through the roof, since they dropped their fares a little loads have shot up from about 60-70% to 90+%.
I think WW could play a stronger hand though, they need a consistent schedule from day-to-day. At the minute it is all over the place. Frequencies are added and times are changed seemingly ad nauseam. I think an extra ORK section is put in whenever there are gaps in the schedule, usually only lasting a few weeks at a time.
Brian.
I think WW could play a stronger hand though, they need a consistent schedule from day-to-day. At the minute it is all over the place. Frequencies are added and times are changed seemingly ad nauseam. I think an extra ORK section is put in whenever there are gaps in the schedule, usually only lasting a few weeks at a time.
Brian.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unlike EI that gave up their 737-300s and -500s far too quickly in my opinion bmi baby have always had the right size aeroplane for most of the UK regional routes ex Cork and that is something to their credit. I really do hope that bmi baby remain at Cork for the coming winter season. Apart from the farce of their unwillingness for whatever operational reasons they may have of not wanting to shoot low viz approaches at Cork there is, and again in my view, a straightforward honesty about bmi baby's operation and they sure have contributed a lot to Cork Airport over the last few years. If anything, they should base a 737-500 at Cork and they would clean up, eg Gerona, Beauvais, Charleroi, Biarritz, Palma, even Madrid and dare I say it, Gatwick! 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FR winter flights
Ryanair have now loaded the rest of their route schedule for Cork:
Stansted continues with the existing pattern of 3 per day and 2 on Saturday but for Tuesdays and Thursdays where no FR 905/6 flight is currently shown.
Prestwick gets a more settled flight pattern with an early evening flight time daily except Saturday which still has a mid morning flight.
Nottingham East Midlands continues as at present as does Liverpool except
for a Saturday morning service replacing the present late evening flight.
Dublin still has the four return flights operated by the Cork based aircraft.
Speaking of Dublin, Ryanair and indeed Aer Arann are likely to see improved traffic on the route today due to the likelihood of ongoing industrial action by
Irish Rail drivers which affected some 7,000 rail journeys yesterday, many of
which were between Dublin and Cork.
Stansted continues with the existing pattern of 3 per day and 2 on Saturday but for Tuesdays and Thursdays where no FR 905/6 flight is currently shown.
Prestwick gets a more settled flight pattern with an early evening flight time daily except Saturday which still has a mid morning flight.
Nottingham East Midlands continues as at present as does Liverpool except
for a Saturday morning service replacing the present late evening flight.
Dublin still has the four return flights operated by the Cork based aircraft.
Speaking of Dublin, Ryanair and indeed Aer Arann are likely to see improved traffic on the route today due to the likelihood of ongoing industrial action by
Irish Rail drivers which affected some 7,000 rail journeys yesterday, many of
which were between Dublin and Cork.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tom, the slightly smaller 735s are leaving the WW fleet in favour of more 733s. Actually I have not seen a WW 735 for a while, but I do agree with you. I think a fleet of a dozen or so A319s would be great for UK-Ireland routes and some of the thinner European routes.
That said, apparently the cost of operating an A320 is negligibly more than the cost of a 319. I suppose the uniformity of the fleet makes it easy to swap aircraft as required saves time and money and needs less planning too. FR chose the 738 and seem to make it work on all types of routes. So there might be something to the theory?
Overall I prefer EI to WW. There is always that niggle in the back of my mind that WW might cancel, diver to SNN, or so on more quickly than EI would. Their schedule is a lot less robust too, often carrying 1h+ delays.
Brian.
That said, apparently the cost of operating an A320 is negligibly more than the cost of a 319. I suppose the uniformity of the fleet makes it easy to swap aircraft as required saves time and money and needs less planning too. FR chose the 738 and seem to make it work on all types of routes. So there might be something to the theory?
Overall I prefer EI to WW. There is always that niggle in the back of my mind that WW might cancel, diver to SNN, or so on more quickly than EI would. Their schedule is a lot less robust too, often carrying 1h+ delays.
Brian.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Iarnród Éireann strike
The strike by Iarnród Éireann drivers at Cork seems to be good news for Aer Arann and Ryanair on the Cork-Dublin route. Tomorrow's 7.40AM Ryanair and the 8AM Aer Arann Cork-Dublin flights all seem to be sold out as well as the 2 PM and 5PM Aer Arann and 18.20 Ryanair flights from Dublin-Cork. Its rare to see so many flights sold out on the route. Also I looked earlier when there were seats available on the 7.40 and 18.20 Ryanair and they were working out at over €300 return! Its been years since I've seen a Cork-Dublin return trip costing over €300! MOL must be hoping the train drivers stay on strike!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: on the road...
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Colleague of mine booked yesterday to go up and down to Dublin today (same day). Cost him €120 altogether. I'd call that reasonable. And the flight this morning (the 7am Aer Arann) wasn't full.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Colleague of mine booked yesterday to go up and down to Dublin today (same day). Cost him €120 altogether. I'd call that reasonable. And the flight this morning (the 7am Aer Arann) wasn't full.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The train driver strike has given a grand end of month boost to Cork Airport for Cork to Dublin flights. What a golden opportunity it has been and how pleased the marketing department at the CAA must be - they'll be grinning like a litter of Cheshire cats with so many full flights in the last week or so.
I am a little disappointed not to have read some comment before now on last weekend's mighty airlift from Cork Airport to Bristol and Cardiff for the European Rugby Final in Cardiff. The heavies were far less in fashion at Cork this year compared to previous finals and you would needed to have been quite an early bird last Saturday to catch a glimpse of the sole widebody, a Monarch A330-200, that arrived from Gatwick shortly after 4 am. She was preceded by a few minutes by Monarch Airbus sistership, an A321 and followed by the Iron Maiden liveried Astraeus Boeing 757. It was hardly 5.30 am last Saturday and there were all ready nearly 800 pax through the gates at Cork. What a feat!
Other big jets through the morning were 737-800s from Transavia (Miami Air aircraft) and Travel Service (Hungary). Two old stagers in the shape of MD80s from Spanair and Swiftair also from Spain added a bit of good ol' fashioned noise and smoke on the takeoffs and climbouts. Global warming, how are you! Ryanair got in on the game with the Cork based aeroplane doing a rotation to Bristol and this time they sold the return leg back to Cork and put in a creditable performance with 84 pax buying tickets back to Leeside as they might say on 96FM! Aer Arann had two flights on the day and they were packin' 'em in as one flight had about 73 pax aboard. The ATR-72-500 is an aeroplane that is hard to beat for Cork.
Spain contributed the exotica for the airlift for the game in the shape of no less than three Metroliners. What a sight it was to see those angular but slippery birds grace our Cork skies. Not to be outdone Britain provided nearly just as much style with the presence of two Jetstream 31s and one Jetstream 41 from Eastern Airways. By crikey, the new colours from Eastern Airways has got to be one of the best looking around these days! A UK reg Cessna Titan was also in action but soon after take off from Cork for the game she returned tech for a safe landing on runway 35. I wonder did those poor fans have any luck on getting a seat elsewhere on a flight for the game?
There were also a few bizjets lined up for the game in the shape of a few different Citation variants and a very smart looking Learjet. A few helicopters, mostly Augusta 109 type frames, took off from the flying club also bound for the big game.
A highlight was when there were three MD80s on the ground at Cork at the same time, the Spanair and the Swiftair for the rugby along with the Air Dubrovnik going off to Croatia for some sun, sea and sand. Doubt if Cork will have that too many more times in the future.
Last Saturday morning was one of those rare, near perfect days at Cork Airport. It was a privilege to be a tiny part of the great day's history at Cork Airport and for all Munster people.
Two things I will remark on to the Cork Airport Authority - a parallel taxiway, even in truncated form, is needed for busier summer operations and it would be good for the environment. Secondly, if runway extensions are out of the question I would strongly urge the laying down of even a 200 feet starter strip at the runway 35 end at Cork. Something even as modest as the above would make such a difference and if you dont want to believe me ask a heavy jet pilot. The MD80 pilots would be a good start. Powering down an upsloping runway on 35 at Cork for take off is no joke.
I am a little disappointed not to have read some comment before now on last weekend's mighty airlift from Cork Airport to Bristol and Cardiff for the European Rugby Final in Cardiff. The heavies were far less in fashion at Cork this year compared to previous finals and you would needed to have been quite an early bird last Saturday to catch a glimpse of the sole widebody, a Monarch A330-200, that arrived from Gatwick shortly after 4 am. She was preceded by a few minutes by Monarch Airbus sistership, an A321 and followed by the Iron Maiden liveried Astraeus Boeing 757. It was hardly 5.30 am last Saturday and there were all ready nearly 800 pax through the gates at Cork. What a feat!
Other big jets through the morning were 737-800s from Transavia (Miami Air aircraft) and Travel Service (Hungary). Two old stagers in the shape of MD80s from Spanair and Swiftair also from Spain added a bit of good ol' fashioned noise and smoke on the takeoffs and climbouts. Global warming, how are you! Ryanair got in on the game with the Cork based aeroplane doing a rotation to Bristol and this time they sold the return leg back to Cork and put in a creditable performance with 84 pax buying tickets back to Leeside as they might say on 96FM! Aer Arann had two flights on the day and they were packin' 'em in as one flight had about 73 pax aboard. The ATR-72-500 is an aeroplane that is hard to beat for Cork.
Spain contributed the exotica for the airlift for the game in the shape of no less than three Metroliners. What a sight it was to see those angular but slippery birds grace our Cork skies. Not to be outdone Britain provided nearly just as much style with the presence of two Jetstream 31s and one Jetstream 41 from Eastern Airways. By crikey, the new colours from Eastern Airways has got to be one of the best looking around these days! A UK reg Cessna Titan was also in action but soon after take off from Cork for the game she returned tech for a safe landing on runway 35. I wonder did those poor fans have any luck on getting a seat elsewhere on a flight for the game?
There were also a few bizjets lined up for the game in the shape of a few different Citation variants and a very smart looking Learjet. A few helicopters, mostly Augusta 109 type frames, took off from the flying club also bound for the big game.
A highlight was when there were three MD80s on the ground at Cork at the same time, the Spanair and the Swiftair for the rugby along with the Air Dubrovnik going off to Croatia for some sun, sea and sand. Doubt if Cork will have that too many more times in the future.
Last Saturday morning was one of those rare, near perfect days at Cork Airport. It was a privilege to be a tiny part of the great day's history at Cork Airport and for all Munster people.
Two things I will remark on to the Cork Airport Authority - a parallel taxiway, even in truncated form, is needed for busier summer operations and it would be good for the environment. Secondly, if runway extensions are out of the question I would strongly urge the laying down of even a 200 feet starter strip at the runway 35 end at Cork. Something even as modest as the above would make such a difference and if you dont want to believe me ask a heavy jet pilot. The MD80 pilots would be a good start. Powering down an upsloping runway on 35 at Cork for take off is no joke.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Southwest
Its good to see Air Southwest load a winter timetable as had been expected retaining the present Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday flights with a PLY-NQY-ORK-PLY-NQY routing. That's two new winter destinations!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: cork
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Busy airport
What a golden opportunity it has been and how pleased the marketing department at the CAA must be - they'll be grinning like a litter of Cheshire cats with so many full flights in the last week or so.
Surely it is those train drivers from Cork should get all the kudos. Im sure the CAA will constantly be telling us in June when the May sats are released how wonderfull it is to see record traffic throughput and that it is all due to their extensive efforts etc etc when really its all due to our brilliant Munster rugby team and the work shy train drivers.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is Cork really that far away from DUB to make flying worthwhile, especially if your meeting is in the city centre or the likes of City West?
Just out of interest does anyone make such a journey regularly? I think if my meeting were on the North of Dublin, etc flying would be an option, but if I were to be in City West or the City Centre I'd choose the train. Is that how others feel too?
Brian.
Just out of interest does anyone make such a journey regularly? I think if my meeting were on the North of Dublin, etc flying would be an option, but if I were to be in City West or the City Centre I'd choose the train. Is that how others feel too?
Brian.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ireland
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ork Dub
The problem with the train is that parking can be very problematic at Kent Station. Space there is very limited and the streets surrounding it are in 1 hr and 2 hr disc parking zones. Those who use both means of travel say that the time difference is not that great but that the plane journey is less tiring.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: on the road...
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I fly regularly to Dublin with RE and FR, and much prefer it to the train. I now many who feel the same.
With online checkin, fast security in the morning in Cork (now 4 scanners open) and the port tunnel, it is faster than the train and you don't have to get up as early if you want to make a 9.00 meeting.
Don't forget, why many passengers prefer it, is they are connecting in Dublin, so have bags etc which would have to be dragged along with their owners asses out to the airport.
It grates that IE have spent hundreds of millions on track, signalling and new rolling stock, yet journey times haven't improved. Add to that the fall in service levels in catering and it pushes me, for one, to the airport.
With online checkin, fast security in the morning in Cork (now 4 scanners open) and the port tunnel, it is faster than the train and you don't have to get up as early if you want to make a 9.00 meeting.
Don't forget, why many passengers prefer it, is they are connecting in Dublin, so have bags etc which would have to be dragged along with their owners asses out to the airport.
It grates that IE have spent hundreds of millions on track, signalling and new rolling stock, yet journey times haven't improved. Add to that the fall in service levels in catering and it pushes me, for one, to the airport.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Cork
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had switched from flying to using the train and I have now switched back. Both FR and RE have excellent early morning schedules and the connections back to Cork are pretty good as well. Congestion in getting to Dublin Airport can be a problem but you just have to factor that in. Security in Cork Airport is now pretty quick and the domestic security channel in Dublin is very handy. The 40min journey time on a 737-800 flight is hard to beat.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Leeds, UK & Cork, Ireland
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys. I forgot about the effects of the port tunnel.
I once flew into DUB and got the train to ORK. Certainly a hellish journey I would never do again. I think I would either fly up or drive. The public transport links to DUB are awful, I think the journey from DUB to the station took almost as long as the train journey itself! The whole process made connecting at LHR look like a cake walk!
Brian.
Don't forget, why many passengers prefer it, is they are connecting in Dublin, so have bags etc which would have to be dragged along with their owners asses out to the airport.
Brian.