(Pedantic mode on)
according to AA route-planner:
Shannon Airport to Cork = 78 miles
Waterford Airport to Cork = 79.5 miles
... so no actual saving in distance there.

However (pedantic mode off) the Cork to Waterford road is probably a better road for most of the journey, and provides more opportunities for overtaking that feckin tractor that just pulled out in front of you and ain't going nowhere fast for another 20 miles.

Cork board
 

According to the media there is a serious split in the Cork Board over this weeks developments.

Cork County Council and City Council should pony up the cash so that the County can CPO that land ASAP.

Why shouldn't the government not pay for this state infrastructure?
They announced as part of the National Development Plan that they were investing in Derry Airport in January. This week we get the announcement that they are investing in all the other regional airports including over €20 million for the Minister's local airport (Waterford). Not sure why they want to screw Cork.
The board of the CAA should resign and could well be accused of trading recklessly with a €100 million debt being put on a relatively small regional airport.
If Fianna Fail don't resolve this fairly before the election, I hope they will lose many of their Cork seats in the forthcoming general election.:=

A few comments regarding Cork Airport, and I am glad to hear that the management team realise that a lot of potential is there for more route expansion from Cork to a number of European destinations which is exactly what Cork needs. What Cork also needs are more carriers to serve a number of new destinations; the likes of Lufthansa, SAS, Brussels Airlines, Air France, Austrian Airlines and even the likes of perhaps Hapag Lloyd and FlyGlobespan and not just relying on the likes of Aer Lingus and Ryanair.

Recently too, the management stated they want to knock down the old terminal which I happen to agree with, perhaps to make more apron space which it needs for bigger aircraft to use parked nose-in. Don’t be surprised if the management want to extend the new terminal out over the old car park in front of the old terminal instead of going the other way where DHL and TNT have their buildings as there are no immediate plans for a new cargo village for these building to knocked. What Cork Airport also needs are Proper Instrument Landing system (Category III) to make it up to more international standard, an extra 2000ft runway extension and above all a parallel taxiway.
The sooner too Open Skies comes in the better for Cork Airport and the airport can attract the likes of Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. The demand is there and scheduled transatlantic flights are what Cork Airport needs. Getting back to new European destinations from Cork; Brussels, Milan, Stockholm, Glasgow, Zurich, Bordeaux, Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich and Copenhagen would be at the top of my list plus a few more later.

Ger Cork,

It would be great to see the likes of SAS and Air France in Cork but the reality is that they are not going to take Aerlingus and Ryanair on at one of their Irish bases. Foreign airlines are coming under increasing pressure even in Dublin. For instance Alitalia and Finnair no longer operate year round services and Lufthansa's operation has also been scaled back.

If Cork is to grow it will be Aerlingus , Ryanair or both that will drive it. Transatlantic is also a possibility and I hear that there are serious negotiations underway with 2 carriers in relation to JFK and BOS. I hope that Cork people will put their money where their mouth is and support the new services if they materialise.

Hi, Am I allowed post a link to an article about the Airport board being split?


The rules for posting links are in the stickies at the top of the forum. Advertising and links to spotter websites are amongst the links not allowed.

I didnt know LH had reduced flights ex DUB??? They went 3 daily last year, up from 2 daily. EI and FR will stay as the main operators in ORK. The only possibility would be WX/AF to CDG!

LH
 

Refering to the fact that some years ago they flew to several German Cities. The growth at Dublin is being driven by Ryanair and Aerlingus. The fact that both of them have a base at Cork will probably scare off other low costs although Easyjet came very close to signing a major deal in early 2005 involving several UK and Continental Cities.

Oh, I understand. I though LH was reducing services or something. I doubt AF, KL or many other airlines will begin ORK service, with FR and EI lying in wait. I think ORK should be pushing for another A320 to be based in ORK, and routes like GLA, MXP, GVA, FRA etc could be served.

Major meeting of staff at Cork on Monday night and another board meeting on Thursday. NO doubt the media will be covering same with renewed interest.

Aer Arann
 

Aer Arann will introduce free online check in on the Cork-Dublin route only from March 5th. No doubt this will prove popular with Ryanair passengers who are currently charged €3 each way for the privilidge of checking in online.

Aer Arann
 

PAX also only need to be at the gate -20 with online check-In

As Online checkin is another positive, does this mean, RE will be "8 TIMES BETTER" on the DUB-ORK route.

Anyone think They'll Be able to sustain an 8th Daily Departure by Summer??

There is a small complication - Zoning
 

Lets not forget that the airport land is zoned for Airport use, Lets hope that Cork County Council very strictly apply that criteria - therefore the land can only be used for purposes directly linked to the operation of the airport, such as cargo handling. There should be No question of it being sold off to highest bidder to use for any thing else. Cork County Councillors please Note.

Cork debt
 

Mounting political pressure in advance of board meeting on Thursday and Taoiseach's Visit to Cork on Friday.

Any more updates on the latest FR rumors? It was doing the rounds again yesterday; then again, with just one based aeroplane in Cork, the place is all ways ripe for yet another Ryanair rumor. Getting a bit late now for the summer schedule '07 if FR were to go ahead with any new expansion from Cork?

There might be announcement from Bertie when he comes to Cork tomorrow for a bit of roasting!?

It was suggested in the Ryanair thread that all aircraft are allocated until September now

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpos...&postcount=223

I'm not sure I could see MOL doing Bertie a favour by leaving him to announce any expansion anyway.

Cork Airport "Board" were due to meet today to discuss recent developments, no white smoke yet.

BMI Baby
 

Titan Airways Post 160 was right. BMI Baby are fighting back against Aer Lingus by introducing a second daily flight from Cork to both Birmingham and Manchester on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That means we will have 3 flights per day to Manchester on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However the extra frequency is only from 17 April-22 May and before returning on the 18th of September and continuing until the end of the timetable period. How will Aerlingus compete with 9 times weekly flights to both Birmingham and Manchester when they only offer four and three flights weekly. Would it not make more sense to offer daily flights to one city and scrap the other? For example the MWFS flights to Birmingham could go to Manchester instead leaving the TTS flights to be operated on a W pattern by a Dublin aircraft. Or else the Dublin aircraft could operate a W pattern to Birmingham instead of Manchester tying in with the other 4 flights of the Cork based plane. Surely it would make more financial sense for Aer Lingus?? What do others think?

Why should a National airline be forced out of a route from it's own territory for a small, subsidary of a low cost airline?