Survey may encourage airline to take over axed route

A BUSINESS travel survey is to be undertaken by Cork Chamber in the hope of encouraging a new airline to take over the Cork-Dublin route.

The move follows Ryanair’s announcement last week that the low-cost carrier was withdrawing from the route.

Aer Lingus and Aer Aran had previously withdrawn from the service and Ryanair’s decision means that when they axe their service in October there will be no flights between the two cities.

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber chief executive, said his organisation would be calling for an urgent meeting of “regional stakeholders” to discuss the issue and announced the launch of a business travel survey which will provide useful information in relation to the route and the development of a new service.

“The successful economic development of Cork to date has often been attributed to the strong partnership model which exists between regional stakeholders and with this in mind, Cork Chamber has called for an urgent meeting to take place this Friday amongst the relevant regional stakeholders to ensure that everything is done to secure a new carrier for the Cork-Dublin route as quickly as possible,” Mr Healy said.

He said that the business travel survey would see Cork Airport, Dublin Chamber and Cork Chamber join forces to assess the demand for air services between the two cities.

“This short survey assesses the travel needs for air connectivity between Ireland’s two largest cities, and will help enhance the business case to those airlines who remain open to the proposition of a Cork-Dublin/Dublin-Cork route,” Mr Healy said.

He is urging all companies to complete the survey which is being circulated widely, and is also available on the chamber website, corkchamber.ie.

Meanwhile, Aer Arann yesterday announced details of its new twice daily service between Kerry and Dublin due to start on November 3.

The first flight will leave Kerry from Monday to Saturday at 7.30am, arriving in Dublin at 8.30am, while on Sundays the morning flight from Kerry will depart at 9am. The evening flight to Kerry will depart Dublin at 7pm seven days a week. There will also be a mid-morning service from Dublin at 11.10am every day and a lunchtime service from Kerry at 12.30pm daily.