Airport faces crisis of confidence
Cork airport’s navigational aid - ILS CAT2 - was out of action as a result of drainage work near the runway where pipes were said to be sinking underneath the ramp near an aircraft parking area.
The plans of thousands of passengers were thrown into disarray between Friday night and Sunday morning when at least 20 flights were ‘lost’ from the airport.
Airlines, schedules and flight crews were also disrupted. This costs money and must cause a huge lack of confidence in the airport among passengers, airlines and potential new carriers. Why should passengers remain loyal to Cork airport in these circumstances?
Airlines bear the costs of these diversions. These costs are eventually passed on to the fare-paying passengers with higher prices or, worse still, airlines may decide to quit Cork completely. Sadly, diversions are nothing new to Cork. It has been so for decades. The solution is clear... the ILS CAT2 should be maintained at all costs for use when needed. It should not be compromised by other works like the digging of drains, etc.
If this kind of work needs to be done, it should be carried out between midnight and 6.30am when flying operations are at a minimum.
My wife and I were in Budapest awaiting our return flight to Cork when news came through of the diversions.
You can imagine our anxiety as we sought weather updates from Cork airport and worried whether our flight would also be diverted after a three-hour flight home.
The management of Cork airport must show commitment and put Cork and its passengers first. Otherwise, the building of a fancy new terminal, at huge cost, will come nowhere near to curing the ills at the airport. Cork people deserve better.
Tom Whelan
61 Father Matthew Road
Turners Cross
Cork
