THE recession gloom is still lingering, but we are slowly beginning to book summer holidays, with extra city breaks becoming a thing of the past, according to tour operators.

SIPTU members at Czech Airlines are to strike at Dublin airport today in protest at job cuts.

IRISH soccer fans could be set for a ticket bonanza for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia after the decision to relocate the fixture to the Germany city of Mainz.

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

BUSINESS plans to establish Cork and Shannon as independent airports have finally been sent to the Government for approval, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Irish squad have arrived in San Marino ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier tomorrow night.

Lee Carsley is relishing his second coming with the Republic of Ireland squad.

THE plane carrying the Republic of Ireland soccer squad to San Marino for tomorrow night’s Euro 2008 qualifier was forced to return to Dublin airport due to a technical fault.

The Republic of Ireland’s trip to San Marino has begun in farcical circumstances, with their plane forced to return to Dublin airport after 90 minutes in the air.

I READ with sadness all the criticism of the new Cork airport in your letters columns recently.

IT was very interesting to read the letter from Cork Airport marketing manager Kevin Cullinane (Irish Examiner, September 18) detailing the benefits of the new terminal and all the upgraded ancillary facilities.

EVERYONE in Cork ought to feel a sense of pride in the smart new airport terminal and share the enthusiasm of Kevin Cullinane (Irish Examiner letters, September 18) for its many new features.

AER LINGUS announced three new routes out of Cork Airport yesterday as part of a major route expansion.

STEVE STAUNTON’S army of globetrotting fans face a bill of over €1,500 each for flights if they want to see their heroes in action in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

A Czech plane on a flight to New York made an unscheduled landing in Keflavik, Iceland, after the airline received a warning that bomb was on board.

Prague’s international airport was evacuated early today after authorities received a telephoned bomb threat, a local news agency said.