CityJet’s Cork to London flights take to the air today

Tourism bodies are targeting inbound food, golf and conference tourism business as CityJet launches its new high-frequency Cork to London service today.

The first CityJet flight from Cork is due to depart to London City Airport at 7.40am. The airline plans to operate three flights a day from Cork Monday to Friday, with one return flight on Saturday and two flights on Sunday.

Cork Airport’s managing director, Niall MacCarthy, said he was delighted to see the service take off.

“The new route is great news for business and leisure passengers,” he said.

“It allows passengers fly direct from Cork Airport into the heart of London city on a regular and convenient service with easy access to the financial district and the West End as well as other city landmarks.”

Welcome to #Cork .@cityjet. Aircraft on finals to .@CorkAirport ahead of 2morrow's 1st flight to .@LondonCityAir pic.twitter.com/xcZczyjfkM

— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) September 30, 2015

He said the airport has been working with its tourism partners to promote the Munster region to inbound tourists from London.

Mayor of Cork County, Cllr John Paul O’Shea, said the service will be of enormous benefit to the region.

“It also offers the community of London City a significant opportunity to visit Cork and avail of all that is on offer here,” he said.

@.CityJet has arrived in Cork ahead of the .@corkairport to .@LondonCityAir launch tomorrow. #CityJetCork pic.twitter.com/NEAxpNytpq

— Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) September 30, 2015

Cork Chamber chief executive, Conor Healy, said he was delighted that the new route further enhances connectivity from Cork.

“It is hugely important that we now all support this new route as well as others recently announced to ensure their success, which will also help attract other routes from the region.”

South West IDA Ireland’s regional manager, Ray O’Connor, also called on the international and indigenous businesses in the region to support the new service.

Just one more sleep until the launch of @cityjet's new Cork-@LondonCityAir service. #CityJetCork #flyfriendly pic.twitter.com/fCgP04ehER

— Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) September 30, 2015

London is one of the most popular destinations from Cork Airport with more than 800,000 passengers flying from the region each year.

The airport, which is expecting to return to passenger growth next year, has announced a string of new routes and services recently, including last week’s historic announcement of a new transatlantic service to Boston with Norwegian Airlines, which also has plans for services to New York and Barcelona, as well Aer Lingus’ new Dusseldorf route and Flybe’s Cardiff service.

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