EI/RE
 

As commented upon, US fares competitive. Seems little difference in the next few months between fares on lastminute.com through LHR or AMS and EI/RE through DUB.

DUB no better or no worse than LHR but with added advantage of US pre-clearance.

EI/RE should launch joint advertising campaign throughout Munster though risk of EI cannabilsing its LHR and AMS routes.

I don't know about Heathrow, but the USA doesn't account for that many trips to Amsterdam.

The largest group is travellers going to destinations in the low countries who are travelling on by surface transport. Next is European destinations not served directly from Cork or not served at the right frequency. After that comes eastbound long-haul (Manila is particularly popular because there are no direct flights from Heathrow). Westbound long-haul would then come after this. It could take some passengers off the Amsterdam flight, but not a massive number.

TNT
 

TNT have not showed up at Cork this week so maybe they've left as predicted by another subscriber.

EI/RE Agreement
 

Good to see this being agreed. As already said, it should primarily benefit both carriers in their respective battles for market share and maybe to a lesser extent Cork Airport if pax that have previously began transatlantic journeys by road, rail or chauffeured limo now depart courtesy of the RE feeder to EI's transatlantic services from Dublin. This type of initiative enjoyed moderate success previously when part of the Bernie Cahill plan for the establishment of an Aer Lingus Transatlantic hub at Dublin supported by the EI Fokker 50 (and subsequently B.146) fleet of the time from a range of points including Cork. Oh how times have changed since then...

From The Route Shop: "Market potential of 24,053 passengers was recorded travelling from BUD to Cork during 2007."

TNT have gone to Shannon due to landing fee increases

TNT
 

No changes listed in Cork's published landing and parking charges.

Anyone know why Cork's EI840 to Amsterdam was down for a three hour delay this morning? Such was the inconvenience that Dublin's EI592 to Madrid stopped off at Cork presumably to take aboard some of what would have been connecting pax at AMS. Loads must have been big enough for it to be prudent for EI to divert the Madrid flight via Cork?

In a bitter sweet irony today's EI592 is just one of three Madrid related Cork flights in the present 24 hour period. Spanair did a student flight from Barajas late last evening and there is another flight later tonight. Three Madrid flights in the one day - so blinking ironic. Well done, ducksie & company, you made sure to do your little bit to help wreck Madrid both for Cork and for snn.

There were two Italian student flights earlier in the week with both flights opereated by Eurofly A320s and yesterday afternoon there was a hint at exotica with a Jetran Air MD-80 of Romania doing a Lourdes flight. Nice colours and what a beautiful noise she made on takeoff from 35 over the city.

Lots of bizjets in lately to Cork - some of which must have been related to the Cork Midsummer festival bringing in different music artistes for concerts/gigs around the city. Whether they were related or not to the Midsummer Festival there was an Indian registered Gulfstream 4 and a Kenyan Citation in too to Cork last weekend. I know someone whom has relations working for PIA in the UK so I must ask them to fix up the visit of a Pakistan aircraft to Cork. ;)

Have heard also that work is due to start on another aircraft stand to the north of Cork's widebody stand, (Stand 17?) where the ground equipment etc normally rests up. That will be great, hope we have the traffic next summer for it to be used!

Good to have Warsaw back this week and full credit to Wizz for having the faith. Pity Malev cashed in their chips with Budapest - even two a week would be great. Is there any hope or have the CAA given up totally on this one?

If it was the 840 presumably the 320 fancied a lie-in? ;)
Perhaps the MAD was diverted because of a large school trip, or something like that. Perhaps EI just could not find a large number of seats on a flight, especially in the middle of the summer. If it was a trip involving children and a limited number of adults, there would surely be problems sending kids in batches of 4 or 5 on different flights out of LHR, MAN,AMS etc?
Just a guess though.

I have to day Tom, I agree that FR have done some damage to routes out of ORK by launching them out of SNN too. Ultimately this had lead to reduced "connectivity" - to coin a phrase, for the south, the south east and south west.

Also - whats the story with the jetbridge at the minute? I flew in on the 725 from Heathrow on Wednesday and we used steps. I thought the LHR flights used the bridge? Is it back in action, or do EI not use it anymore since the A320 was damaged?

Brian.

Cork (the airport with only one airbridge)
 

There is a standoff about who is responsible for the collapse of the floor of the jetbridge. The only airport known to have one airbridge and its out of order for nearly 6 months!

The routing of the Dublin Madrid flight via Cork was not for the benefit of any passengers headed for Spain. Rather it was the first available aircraft ex Dublin travelling on a southerly route that could be rerouted via Cork in order to get DVF (the aircraft on the Ei 840) underway with the minimum delay to both aircraft. Although the Amsterdam flight left three hours late, the delay would have been longer if EI relied on the arrival of the first scheduled flight from Dublin.

Jet 2 Cork-Newcastle
 

Jet2 have put Cork-Newcastle on sale for winter 08/09. It drops to twice weekly with flights on Friday and Sunday evenings. The reduction is not entirely surprising as the 4 weekly service last winter struggled a bit. While the Friday and Sunday flights did very well, the Wednesday flights in particular often had poor loads. They operated a 2 weekly weekend service in winter 06/07 and that was very successful so perhaps that is the optimal frequency for winter service on the route.

Anyone know why there was a BMIBaby aircraft overnighting on the apron in Cork last night?

Also, I note that TNT were around this morning. Any update on this?

Finally, what was the flight to Milan showing on the arrivals and departures board today? Was it a one-off? If so why. I'm not aware of anyone offering regular charters on the Cork-Milan route.

That's it for the Spanish inquisition...

It was Eurofly; they have been operating student charters from Milan to Cork and Shannon every summer for the past few years

The Bmibaby aircraft arrived on Monday's Birmingham flight just before lunchtime and went no further. It was moved to stand 15 for the overnight. With no scheduled flight to Manchester on Monday or to Birmingham on Tuesday, the outbound passengers were short on alternative Bmibaby options to get to the U.K. midlands. Work was ongoing on the aircraft this evening.

BMI Baby Winter Schedule
 

ORK-BHX

Daily excl Tues


ORK-MAN

Daily (x2 Mon and Fri only)

I think an RIP condolence needs to be mentioned here for the minister who 1st tried to instigate the breakup of the DAA and revolutionize the whole airport sector in Ireland.
RTÉ News: Tributes paid to Séamus Brennan

..........is he the one that promised that Cork would start as an independent entity DEBT FREE?
Not the time, with our traditonal respect for the dead, to open a discussion on this.

RIP to poor ol' Seamus Brennan. Did not realise he was just 60 years of age. I remember him clearly during the General Election campaign of 1977 and how he helped Fianna Fail get to a landslide victory with election promises like the abolition of rates etc. On today's 1 pm news on Radio 1 they even rolled out MO'L himself to heap praise in memory of the late Mr Brennan on how he was willing as Minister for Transport to take on the all powerful unions at Dublin Airport and that he played a part in getting EI off the Dublin Stansted route leaving it to FR to reap the reward.

May he rest in peace.

Today at Cork there was another Eurofly charter from Milan operated by A320. Last night's bmi baby from Manchester was operated by a bmi A320. Looks like baby are happy to slog it out again for the winter with EI on Birmigham and Manchester. Suppose their Cork bound pax will be still waiting for CAT2 approaches by baby on the low viz days below CAT1? Interesting that with MAN they plan on double daily flights on the Mondays and the Fridays. They might get ahead a little with that plan.

Just heard that Dublin is closed until further notice due radar problems. No doubt Shannon will be reaping the harvest as usual!

Whats with all the negativity, TTT. EI.com indicates that BFS,SNN and ORK have all received diversions as aresult of the Dublin radar issues. Besides ORK is the furthest by road and for many flights approaching from the east, is also the farthest Irish alternate from Dublin. With this mind , of course Shannon will receive more traffic out of this than Leeside.

Theirs sometime very Irish about the constant begrudging tone in this thread .:ok: