Ryanair to bypass Cork Airport over high costs

RYANAIR, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, said it will not add flights at Cork airport because it is one of the most expensive places in Europe to operate.

The airline said it is more expensive to operate at Cork than at London Stansted or any other regional airport in Europe.

For this reason the airline will not look at expanding there, meaning Cork will lose out to airports such as Kerry and Knock in attracting low- cost flights to Europe.

Ryanair’s director of route development Ken O’Toole said the high airport costs, coupled with the Government’s €10 travel tax, are having a “hugely negative” impact on the airport.

The airline said costs at Kerry and Knock airports are “significantly lower” than at Cork so it would focus any growth plans on these airports instead.

However, in a positive development, the Dublin Airport Authority has approved a long-haul route incentive scheme for Cork – the first time in the airport’s history such an incentive will be offered to long-haul carriers.

The airport’s marketing manager Kevin Cullinane said it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” Cork Airport will be offering long-haul flights. “We are meeting with a number of credible airlines about operating a long-haul route from Cork,” he said.

It’s understood management have met with airlines that already operate flights to the US from Ireland and the feedback on running services from Cork is believed to have been very positive.