Cork Airport’s fortunes on the up as passenger numbers increase almost 10%

Passenger numbers at Cork Airport were up nearly 10% in May on the corresponding month last year, according to figures released by airport management.

Growth of 9.6% was experienced last month and underlines an upward trend in the airport’s fortunes. Year to date passenger numbers at Ireland’s biggest and busiest international airport outside Dublin are up 8.4%.

Growth is projected to continue into the autumn as Cork Airport benefits from additional traffic on new summer services including Düsseldorf with Aer Lingus; Madrid with Iberia Express; and Leeds and Southampton with Aer Lingus Regional among new summer services this year.

Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said he is delighted with the growth for May and the year to date.

“They confirm we’ve had 65,000 additional passengers so far in 2016 versus the same period last year,” said Mr McCarthy.

“Based on anticipated bookings and capacity looking ahead, we are forecasting total passenger numbers of 2.25, people travelling through Cork Airport this year. This will be an increase of 8% over 2015 numbers.”

Passenger numbers are up across all markets, with a 15.5% increase on routes to and from southern Europe; London routes are up 10.2%, UK provincial routes are up 5.0% and northern European routes up 2.2%.

Kevin Cullinane, head of Cork Airport communications, said: “It’s visibly busier. We have more new routes this summer than last, greater frequencies and passengers are voting with their feet to fly from Munster’s friendliest and most connected international airport.

“We see it every morning from 4am once the overnighting aircraft get ready to depart.

“Our first departure is at 6am and it is noticeably busier through the early morning wave of departures.

“We’re seeing more flights and more passengers. These are positive indicators of a very busy summer season ahead at Cork Airport.”

The upward trend is good news considering CityJet announced it would cancel its Cork-London City Airport flights from June 26. This was a blow, especially as the route had only been operating for eight months.

CityJet’s chief executive, Pat Byrne, said the demand for the 18 flights a week service was just not there in sufficient volume and at a sustainable price.

He said before the launch all indications suggested strong support from business and holidaymakers, but this did not materialise.