Aer Lingus cuts 'unprofitable' Cork route

The daily Aer Lingus service between Dublin and Cork will come to an end this October because the airline says the route is unprofitable.

Occupancy on the flights was below 60 per cent and they are losing money, according to the company.

The move has been criticised by business representatives in Cork. Mr Michael Geary, chief executive of the Cork Chamber of commerce said the move had been made without consultation with the business community.

Ceasing daily internal flights by the "national" airline might also create a "negative perception in the eyes of some Cork-based multi-nationals", he said.

Aside from this, Mr Geary said the impact "would not be fatal to [Cork] airport" as the Cork to Dublin route is well served by Aer Arann and Aer Wales.

Mr Seamus Kearney, chief operations officer at Aer Lingus, denied the move would be a blow for businesses operating in Cork and Dublin.

Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Mr Kearney said: "Aer Lingus is by far and away, and will continue to be by far and away, the biggest operator into and out of Cork airport, taking nearly half of the passenger total in and out of Cork this year.

Part of the reason for stopping the flights was that the jets operated by Aer Lingus are too big to be economical on such short flights.

Mr Kearney said Aer Lingus was now concentrating on international services from Cork. "We are extremely confident that the service we are providing to the Irish customer in terms of low fares is working successfully," he added.

Aer Lingus operates three return flights between Dublin and Cork on Monday to Friday, one return flight on a Saturday and two return flights on Sundays. The service will stop on October 26th.