Cork Airport route to New York tops wishlist for business travellers

Chamber’s Cork Airport Survey finds 87% of respondents indicated that direct connectivity into Cork is extremely important or very important for colleagues travelling from overseas

New York is the most sought-after destination for future connectivity at Cork Airport for business travellers, according to a survey published on Tuesday. Picture: PA

New York is the most sought-after destination for future connectivity at Cork Airport for business travellers, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

Cork Chamber’s Cork Airport Survey 2026 found a direct air link to New York is the top among business travellers in the region, while it also tops the wishlist among Chamber members for inbound tourism, with almost a quarter of respondents rating it the number one priority.

The survey was conducted by Cork Chamber in partnership with Cork Airport, and looked at businesses’ current route preferences and priorities for future connectivity, as well as business traveller satisfaction with broader airport services and operations at the southern gateway.

Earlier this year, Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said Boston, New York, and Toronto were “specific targets” for Cork.

While New York was the preferred future route for business travel from Cork, some 34% of survey respondents cited a European capital as a top priority for future business connectivity, with Berlin, Copenhagen, and Madrid cited as key priorities. Iberia Express operated a twice weekly Cork-Madrid service in 2016.

The majority of responding businesses would use a direct Cork to Belfast route if available, with 52% likely to do so at least quarterly.

"Cork Airport is a critical enabler of connectivity across the southern region and has a vital role to play in enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness into the future, as well as continuing to support inbound tourism to the region. From a business perspective, future connectivity to European capital cities like Berlin, Copenhagen, and Madrid, as well as destinations in North America, continues to be a top priority," said Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy. 

Heathrow most frequently used hub

Heathrow was cited by respondents as the most frequently used hub for onward travel, followed by Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and Zurich. A Cork-Frankfurt service was reinstated in June 2026 by Lufthansa, after it paused earlier in the summer when the airline closed its regional subsidiary.

The survey found 87% of respondents indicated that direct connectivity into Cork was extremely important or very important for colleagues travelling from overseas.

"What emerged clearly from the survey results was the importance of direct connectivity into Cork for businesses operating across the region. The southern region is home to a broad range of multinationals and large domestic enterprises, many of whom value proximity to Cork Airport for its high level of service," said Mr Healy.

The high level of service and ease of use offered by Cork Airport remained a draw for business travellers, with respondents rating the airport highly for ease of use, customer service,  and parking.

Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said Cork Airport is continuously seeking to enhance its passenger offering. "The survey results indicate a high level of satisfaction with airport services among business travellers, with ease of use and customer service rated highly by respondents.

"We are delivering an expansion of airport facilities currently and we will open our new mezzanine floor security area and our car park extension in December of this year. We have further capital expansion underway for next year and Ireland’s largest solar car port will go live at Cork Airport in 2027. The timing of these capital developments coincides with 20 years since our terminal building opened to the general public. 

"With these new facilities, we expect to return to strong growth in 2027 reinforcing Cork’s position as the largest airport in Ireland with the most routes, outside of Dublin."