Travel agent ‘shocked’ at fall in traffic at regional airport

THE incoming head of the Irish Travel Agents’ Association says he’s concerned that Cork Airport management aren’t doing enough to attract new business.

Passenger numbers at Cork declined by 15% last year to 2.77 million, compared to a record high of 3.25 million in 2008.

Pat Dawson, who owns Dawson Travel, said yesterday he was shocked at how traffic “was way down” at the airport compared to previous years. “I was the only person at the 40 checkout desks at the airport last Tuesday week when I was preparing to board an Aer Lingus flight to Paris. It was frightening.”