Fuel scraps new route

SOARING fuel prices have downed the first transatlantic flights out of Cork, even before they could take off.

Slattery Travel announced yesterday it was scrapping plans for a twice-weekly service between Cork and New York, because fuel prices had surged to such an extent it would cost an extra €20,000 per flight.

The company’s managing director, David Slattery, said he was bitterly disappointed to have cancelled the flights which were due to get underway on October 27. More than 3,500 bookings had already been made.