Hopes that the much sought-after Cork-Dublin air route could be reintroduced have been dealt a blow by Ryanair, which says demand probably would not be strong enough to warrant its reintroduction.

European affairs minister Dara Murphy has called on his government colleagues to stand over previous commitments to protect connectivity from Irish airports in light of IAG’s potential takeover of Aer Lingus.

Air traffic through debt-saddled Cork Airport nose-dived last month despite strong growth nationally.

The Government should consider subsidising the Cork-Dublin air route, the chairman of the DAA has suggested, adding that Cork Airport is at a disadvantage compared to other airports.

The Government has refused to give any lifeline of exchequer funding to Cork Airport and said it is up to airport management and DAA to reverse plummeting passenger numbers.

A Cork junior minister has said he believes a funding mechanism will be found for Cork Airport to enable it to develop new routes. Otherwise, Minister Sean Sherlock warned of “a very slow decline in activity levels at the airport”.

MICHEÁL Martin says he wants to be the next Taoiseach (not Tánaiste), that Enda Kenny is becoming increasingly detached from ordinary people, and that any talk of a split in Fianna Fáil is now buried.

The head of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has agreed to attend a crisis summit on Cork Airport with Fine Gael TDs this week.

The Dublin Airport Authority is taking legal action against two firms who were involved in the construction of Cork Airport’s terminal building.

THERE is something chilling about the response given by most Cork City-based members of the Dáil to two simple questions posed by the Irish Examiner on Tuesday in relation to the tribulations of Cork Airport.

A prominent Government TD has said his Transport Minister colleague Paschal Donohoe was wrong to rule out exchequer support for debt-ridden Cork Airport.

The chairman of the DAA is to hold a cross-party meeting with public representatives from Cork to discuss the future of the county’s airport.

Over the past several months reports and articles on Irish aviation have substantially focused on only one issue, but Cork airport has other problems, writes Paul Mills.

Cork Airport risks losing its status as Ireland’s second busiest airport following confirmation that more flights are being cut.

Employers are to be made responsible for drink and drug testing staff, Cabinet ministers are today set to discuss new measures to address cases where people do not pay water charges and Mourinho agrees a new Chelsea deal. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

The return of the Cork to Dublin air route is a long way away as there is no appetite among large companies for the service which would require a €1.5m annual subsidy to make it feasible, according to DAA chief executive Kevin Toland.

Cork Airport’s €200m debt is a “red herring” that has no impact on its day-to-day operations but which would be even greater today had the airport been responsible for it over the past number of years, rather than the DAA.

The CEO of the Shannon Group last year enjoyed a sharp jump in his overall remuneration package to €281,869, figures show.

Is the ‘will they, won’t they sell’ saga nearly over for Aer Lingus?

The head of Cork Airport has called for financial support to market the South-West as a tourist destination.