Cork-New York flights will never take off

Dreaming is an Irish characteristic. You cannot operate Cork-to-New York nonstop flights with a 757, or anything else, for that matter.

A 757-200 needs 6,500 feet of runway and a 757-300 needs 7,800 feet. Cork Airport runway is 6,081 feet long. Q.E.D.

Discussions faltered with Ryanair because Michael O’Leary promised 4,000,000 extra passengers per year and Dublin was afraid of diversion and so they instructed Cork Airport not to negotiate. So Dublin got 4,000,000 extra, Shannon 1,500,000 extra and Cork nothing. Our poodles always do what our Master Dublin does. There were no meaningful negotiations.

The airport were offered €4m per year for the old terminal. Now it’s idle, the airport loses €10m.

Dr Michael Grimes

Tramore Road

Cork