Blow to Cork air link hopes
The airline’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs said the improvement in the road network has had a major impact on the feasibility of the route and added that the company’s research indicates that not enough people would use it if it were reintroduced.
His comments were echoed by Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary yesterday, who said that the biggest challenge facing Cork is the growth of Dublin Airport and the ease of access via the improved road network.
A return of the route, which DAA chief executive Kevin Toland previously said could have a greater impact in reversing the fortunes of the struggling regional airport than any other measure, has long been sought following its withdrawal in 2011.
Both Ryanair executives also highlighted Cork’s cost base as an obstacle to growth at the airport, with Mr Jacobs saying there needs to be “a big movement” for Cork to be competitive on existing routes.
The Cork-Dublin route, which at its height carried half a million passengers a year, is seen as critically important to both the airport and the wider region, with Cork Chamber among the groups to have called for its reintroduction.
Discussions over Aer Lingus Regional restoring a Cork-Dublin route from also taken place, with industry sources indicating that the airport’s management are pushing hard for its reintroduction.
The decision is the latest blow to the airport, which has seen passenger numbers fall significantly in the last number of years as it struggles under the weight of large-scale debt incurred as a result of the construction of a new €113m terminal in 2006.
Mr O’Leary said that while Ryanair is in constant talks with the airport’s management, talks are not going anywhere and the airport continues to face significant challenges.
The Ryanair chief also discussed IAG’s attempted Aer Lingus takeover, saying the Irish airline has “no long-term future as an independent airline” which, he said, IAG’s approach confirms.
He said it would be preferable if Aer Lingus remained in Irish hands and said his airline still had the option to launch another bid.
