Airline welcomes 10 millionth flier through airport

Ryanair has welcomed its 10 millionth passenger through Cork Airport.

And to celebrate, the low fares airline announced a 100,000-seat sale across its European network, with prices starting from €17.99.

Ryanair, which began operating from Cork 26 years ago with a route to London Stansted, now serves 21 destinations across Europe from the airport.

And yesterday, the airline presented Sinead Hurley, from Turner’s Cross, Cork City, with a pair of flights to Tenerife for becoming its 10 millionth passenger through Cork.

Cork Airport director Niall MacCarthy said he was looking forward to building on this significant milestone over the next 12 months.

“The growth in Ryanair’s passenger base at Cork Airport since 1987 has been impressive and we are delighted to see the airline continue to serve over 20 destinations from Cork this year,” he said.

Last November, Ryanair was accused of snubbing Cork Airport during its one million passenger growth strategy, triggered by the scrapping of the €3 travel tax in the budget.

It announced a raft of new routes and increased frequency on its services out of Dublin and Shannon.

The airline didn’t add a single service out of Cork as part of its budget-prompted growth plan.

The airline said its decision not to introduce new routes out of Cork was not based on a lack of demand or interest in Cork, but was down to lack of aircraft capacity, airport charges, and other costs.

The airline is still in talks with Cork Airport management but said it will be September before anything emerges, following the delivery of the first tranche of its 175 new aircraft order.

The airline’s 100,000-seat sale is for travel on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout February and March.

The “all-in” cheap flights will be available on over 1,000 of Ryanair’s European routes, but must be booked on ryanair.com before midnight next Monday, Jan 27.

The fare includes all non-optional taxes, charges and fees, so passengers who only travel with carry-on luggage, and decline the airline’s priority boarding service can book, check-in online and fly for the advertised fare.