Aer Arann looks set to cut flights in response to Ryanair’s arrival

AER ARANN looks set to axe most of its daily flights between Cork and Dublin in the face of Ryanair competition.

The airline is poised to reduce the number of its flights between the two cities from nine to six on the same day Ryanair launches its Cork to Dublin service.

While Aer Arann declined to comment on the move yesterday, flight details on its website indicated the decision was imminent.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary promised a major shake-up of domestic travel last week when he announced Cork as his airline’s 14th European base.

He announced two new services from the airport - three daily flights to Dublin starting on November 24 and two new daily flights to London Gatwick.

He said his company was targeting Iarnród Éireann by selling seats for as little as one cent (excluding taxes).

While Aer Arann was advertising its regular nine flights between Cork and Dublin for November 23 on its website yesterday, only three flights were available for November 24.

A company spokeswoman declined to comment on the details yesterday.

“We are looking at our winter schedule at the moment,” she said.

“Obviously the Ryanair competition on the route will have to be taken into consideration.”

It is expected the schedule will be finalised within two weeks, she said.

Aer Arann’s decision is seen as the first major casualty of the new Ryanair competition on the route.

Cork is one of Aer Arann’s major hubs. It has over 40 employees, 25% of its fleet and a maintenance crew based there.

The airline carried over 400,000 people through Cork last year on its 125 weekly flights to Dublin, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Southampton.

The airline also launched a weekly flight to Lorient in Brittany in June which will not operate over the winter.

Rail bosses said last week they felt they had nothing to fear from Ryanair competition.

“We already have plans to modernise the Cork-Dublin route with new trains and will offer an additional 16,000 seats daily,” a spokesman said.

“There will always be the convenience of train travel. You can arrive at the station and board the train minutes later, whereas with a plane you must pass through security and check-in.”

There was good news for Cork Airport yesterday with the confirmation by Jet2.com that it plans to operate a direct service to Newcastle from October 20.

Seats will cost as little as €14 one-way, inclusive of taxes.