Expanded fleet ‘offers opportunity for Cork’

Ryanair has issued a come and get me appeal for Cork Airport to lower its landing costs ahead of the low fares airline taking delivery of a batch of new aircraft — some of which could be used to expand services at the airport.

Some 40 new aircraft are set to join the Ryanair fleet by the end of the year opening up a range of possibilities in terms of routes that can be added or expanded.

Cork Airport could be among the beneficiaries of the airline’s increased fleet if it puts the “right commercial deal” on the table and lowers its landing charges.

“We need a better deal to be able to add more frequency on existing routes. We’ll have additional aircraft this coming winter so we’re going to be receiving 40 additional aircraft into the Ryanair fleet and we’ll have capacity,” said Ryanair chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs.

“With the right commercial deal in place it’s possible that we would increase our offer at Cork Airport.

“Our intention is that we would like to be able to have a bigger offer if we get the right deal.”

Cork Airport maintains that its landing charges are competitive, however.

It applies landing charges on a sliding scale which rise to €8.60 after five years which is cheap in comparison to Dublin (-17%) and its European peers (-8%).

Ryanair last year moved a number of flights to Eastern Europe from Cork to Shannon, however, with the mid-west airport able to strike attractive deals with airlines following its separation from the DAA that, according to management at Cork Airport, no commercial airport can compete with.

“We would point to what’s going on at Shannon and other airports around Europe.

“If you have lower prices at the airport you get a lot more traffic and that tends to be better for the wider economy as tourists are coming spending money… and we’re confident that would happen for Cork tourism if the airport becomes more competitive,” Mr Jacobs said.

The marketing chief added, however, that passengers from Cork and the surrounding area need to support the airport and use the services it has on offer if it wants to see additional routes added.