Airlines open new routes in Cork

Rival airlines Aer Lingus and Ryanair are to increase competition at Cork Airport this summer, with both carriers announcing new routes and schedules today.

Aer Lingus said this morning it would add eight new routes to destinations including Tenerife, La Rochelle, Jersey, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London Gatwick from Cork airport.

This will bring to 140 the number of weekly departures that operate to the UK and continental Europe from the airport, an increase of 44 flights per week. This includes 22 routes served directly from Cork including Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Malaga and Nice.

Aer Lingus said the development was evidence of the airline's long-term commitment to building a route network to serve both business and leisure needs in the region.

Separately, Ryanair said it will put on seven new summer routes from Cork airport, and temporarily base an additional aircraft there for June, July and August.

Ryanair, which owns a 29 per cent stake in Aer Lingus, will fly from Cork to Alicante, Barcelona (Reus), Bordeaux, Faro, La Rochelle, Lanzarote and Malaga, bringing an extra 40,000 passengers through Cork airport in three months, according to the airline's figures.

However, it said the €10 tourist tax imposed by the Government and charges imposed at Cork airport would hamper year-round growth at the airport.

Aer Lingus recently signed a deal with Aer Arann that would see it operate routes under the brand Aer Lingus Regional. Last month said it will explore the possibility of launching new short-haul routes from Shannon airport.

The airline pulled its Shannon-Heathrow route in 2007, blaming an "uncompetitive" cost base and transferred it to a new base in Belfast. The Shannon-Heathrow service was restored last year. Ryanair, meanwhile, said it would downgrade its base to only one aircraft compared with four in 2009.

Aer Lingus also said it would no longer try to undercut Ryanair's prices for routes, and would instead concentrate on offering passengers additional services.