Critical juncture: Airport loses more routes

Cork Airport seems to be at a critical juncture, an impression strengthened by yesterday’s announcement that Aer Lingus will not service Cork-to-Lisbon or Cork-to-Nice routes next summer. 

The airline said the routes were loss making. The belief that the aircraft involved will be used to service the Dublin to Shannon route adds to the feeling that the airport, crippled by unsustainable debt, is facing a grim future without significant support and government intervention leading to a situation where the airport is freed from Dublin Airport Authority control and allowed to compete on an even playing pitch with other regional airports.

Yesterday’s announcement is the latest in a line signalling the loss of routes — and relevancy — for the facility and is bound to have an impact on already spiralling passenger numbers. Sources suggest passenger traffic is down by 40% since 2008.

This decline is bound to have an impact on employment in the region and make it even more difficult to attract foreign investment to the South. Immediate action is needed.