TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar was last night accused of making the boards of Cork and Shannon airports redundant.

THE Department of Transport is considering scrapping the boards at Cork and Shannon airports — a move that would save more than €200,000 a year.

THE sell-off of the state airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon is expected to be one of the more controversial recommendations contained in a new report due to be presented to the Government later this week.

THE group which invited broadcaster Neil Prendeville to London as part of a promotional drive hopes to land up to €500,000 worth of business tourism from that trip alone.

A SURPRISE 50th birthday break lasted a week longer than planned for a German family who finally got home yesterday after flights resumed at Cork Airport.

THE independence of Cork Airport is unlikely to be realised any time soon despite strong arguments that it is vital for its survival.

THE board at Cork Airport has had a turbulent few years battling against resignations and controversy.

CORK Airport has moved a step closer to securing transatlantic flights at the airport.

IN her letter (March 9), Marian O’Mullane mistakenly gives the impression that Cork Airport Authority doesn’t allow you to buy a ticket for cash if you are trying to fly the same day.

A FEW weeks ago a spokesman for Cork airport said the new bmibaby service from the east midlands in England was a sign of green shoots.

TO add to Michael O’Leary’s comments (December 3) about the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA – or DOH!), is it not absolutely crazy that the authority still retains ownership of its other potential competitors in Cork and Limerick.

TRIBUTES poured in across the country for businessman Joe Gantly yesterday, who was described as a positive, energetic and talented personality.

CORK Airport should not expect transatlantic flights any time soon and there will be no re-negotiation on its €113 million debt.

A CORK-BASED technology firm has won two major contracts that it predicts will lead to a multi-million euro revenue stream.

THE new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority has pulled out of a scheduled appearance before an Oireachtas hearing today.

THE new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) has been urged to revisit its controversial €113 million debt issue.

INFLUENTIAL Irish American Loretta Brennan-Glucksman has resigned from the board of Cork Airport.

THE Government has been criticised for delays in appointing a new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority (CAA).

RYANAIR’S recent announcement that it will drop two routes from Cork because Cork Airport Authority is requiring the payment of 20% landing charges instead of zero is rather puzzling.

RYANAIR’S repeated interest in using the old terminal at Cork airport at first glance sounds very attractive.

THE new Cork airport terminal should be state-of-the-art. A huge amount of money went into its construction, yet it has many of the hallmarks of a provincial affair in a less than developed country.

RYANAIR’S swift departure from its Cork flights to Glasgow and East Midlands could not have come at a worse time for Cork Airport.

Ryanair’s announcement that it is dropping two of its Cork routes to Britain has come as a blow not just to Cork Airport but also to the Munster region as a whole, because it will inevitably impact on tourism and thus jobs in the tourist sector.

RYANAIR has confirmed it will almost certainly axe any flights on which Irish airports increase their charges.

Cork threatens Shannon’s title as the state’s second busiest airport after 15 years of successive growth, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

CORK Airport strongly rejected claims last night of a slump in business.

REFORM of the ‘open skies’ agreement between the EU and US was meant to herald a new departure for airlines on the transatlantic route.

I TAKE issue with your ‘elevation’ of former Cork Airport Authority (CAA) chairman Joe Gantly as Business Person of the Week (April 26).

THE aviation sector in this country seems to have lost the run of itself.

The Minister for Transport will appoint a new Chairman for the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) “as soon as possible”.

Cork Airport Authority chairman Joe Gantly today announced that he will be stepping down from his position.

Cork Airport Authority allowed itself to become a shield to protect the Government from its broken promises, according to the Mayor of Cork County.

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey sparked a fresh row yesterday by denying Cork Airport claims he had guaranteed financial support if it struggled to service its debt.

IN the words of that infamous political phrase, it was a good week to bury bad news.

CORK Airport Authority (CAA) will officially discuss at the start of next week the €100 million bill it would face under the findings of the Cassells report on the break-up of Aer Rianta.

SO, IT’S take it or leave it. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has told the Cork Airport Authority to accept €113 million of the airport’s €220m debt or remain under the control of Dublin Airport Authority.

FORMER trade union boss Peter Cassells yesterday recommended that Dublin Airport make a contribution of €10 million to Cork for pensions and other funding requirements in the separation of the two airports.

Industrial relations troubleshooter Peter Cassells has presented his report on the long-running row over who will shoulder Cork Airport’s €220m debt.

IN response to Michael Cawley of Ryanair (Letters, February 23), I would like to clarify what I meant by “planning issues” in my letter (February 16).

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today called on the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to ensure that Cork Airport Authority (CAA) remains debt-free and commercially independent following its final split from the Dublin Airport Authority.

ALAN O’MAHONY (Letters, February 16) highlights Ryanair’s offer to use the old terminal at Cork airport in return for a reduced passenger cost.

THE costs of modernising Cork airport include an expense overrun of between €100 million and €140m.

THE board of Cork Airport last night defended its decision not to appear before a Dáil committee yesterday.