Transatlantic bid moves a step closer

CORK Airport has moved a step closer to securing transatlantic flights at the airport.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has approved a long- haul route incentive scheme for Cork airport – the first time in the history of the airport that 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 is understood management have met with airlines that operate flights to the US from Ireland and the feedback on running services from Cork is believed to have been positive.

A DAA spokesman said that attracting long-haul operators to Cork remains a long-term goal for both the DAA and the Cork Airport Authority.

“Earlier this year, the DAA board approved a new Route Support Scheme specifically for long-haul operations to assist in the development of new routes and encourage the development of long-haul operations from Cork Airport,” he said.

“The DAA also welcomes the decision of US-EU transport ministers regarding Open Skies, as it allows Cork Airport to compete with other secondary airports across Europe for additional transatlantic traffic between Ireland and the United States.”

The incentive scheme will offer airlines that decide to operate in Cork a series of discounts over five years.

Cork Airport came close to attracting a long-haul carrier when Slattery Travel announced it was starting twice- weekly flights from Cork to JFK airport in New York in October 2005. However soaring fuel costs forced the travel agency to scrap the plans.