Low-cost airline EasyJet yesterday predicted it would carry 500,000 passengers over the next year on its three new routes from Cork, Shannon and Knock to London/Gatwick, which went into service yesterday.
EasyJet's chief operating officer, Mr Ed Winter, was confident the routes would prove highly successful as Gatwick was a very convenient gateway for London and the south of England. It was also a major hub for connecting flights to elsewhere in the EU.
"It's an exciting day for EasyJet, and we are delighted to be starting these new services. The Republic of Ireland is a practically untapped market for low-cost services, and air fares in the region have been too high for too long," said Mr Winter.
"EasyJet is now providing thousands of Irish travellers with the opportunity to access the south of England through our Gatwick gateway with our well-established product and great low fares."
Mr Winter said that when a low-cost airline like EasyJet entered an area with a new route it tended to stimulate demand. He was confident EasyJet would meet its target of 85 per cent seat take-up on the new routes.
He said advance sales on the routes had been strong, and the airline expected to carry 500,000 passengers on all three routes, including 170,000 of these through Cork Airport.
He said those booking early could get EasyJet flights from the three airports to Gatwick for €12.99, and he was confident the company would hold this price on the routes indefinitely, though people booking on the eve of their departure would pay more.
Mr Winter said EasyJet generally found some 20-30 per cent of those using its services were business passengers, and the new routes, particularly those into Cork, offered business people the chance to conduct their business in London or Cork and return home that evening.
EasyJet is using a 156-seater Airbus A318 on the three routes, with the two flights daily to Cork and back; one flight to Shannon and back; and one flight daily to Knock and back.