Ryanair challenges airport board

ALAN O’MAHONY (Letters, February 16) highlights Ryanair’s offer to use the old terminal at Cork airport in return for a reduced passenger cost.

Ryanair is indeed willing and able to establish a significant base at Cork airport and develop passenger traffic numbers by up to 50% — or 1.5 million extra passengers per annum over the next five years — if a suitable cost base can be agreed with the Cork Airport Authority (CAA).

Our view is that the airport has an existing facility at zero cost and the only alternative is to let it lie idle and literally gather dust.