Cork Airport ‘must agree’ charge deal

With Ryanair passenger numbers at Shannon set to climb by more than 300,000 to 750,000 this year, the airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has said Cork Airport needs to respond to low charges being offered at the midwest airport and others across Europe.

Shannon, now an independent, state-owned entity, has struck a “confidential” airport charge deal with Ryanair which the airline has failed to replicate at Cork, which is under the control of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

Speaking at Shannon where the airline celebrated carrying its 13 millionth customer at the airport since April, 2000, Mr O’Leary said: “Cork Airport needs to be more competitive if they are to share in the growth that Shannon is certainly winning.”