Return of transatlantic flights would help Cork Airport take off – O’Donovan

Cork Airport is perfectly positioned for the return of transatlantic flights, a Fine Gael General Election candidate has said.

Cork County Councillor Noel O’Donovan has submitted a report to Government and airport authorities underpinning the case for the return of transatlantic flights to Cork Airport.

The report highlights that over 70 buses, accommodating up to 3,500 passengers, currently travel from Cork to Dublin Airport daily. Transatlantic flights from Cork to the US ended in 2019, before which there were regular flights from Cork to New York and Boston.

The lengthy document shares a range of reasons to bring transatlantic routes back to Cork, including investment in infrastructure, local demand, balanced regional development and advances in aircraft technology.

Cllr Noel O’Donovan, Fine Gael General Election Candidate for Cork South West, said:

“Cork Airport, serving a catchment area of over one million people and accommodating 2.8 million passengers annually, has both the necessary demand and infrastructure for transatlantic flights, from Boston to Orlando and along the east coast of the US.

“The infrastructure is ready and waiting; Cork’s 2,133 meter runway can accommodate the Airbus A321 LR and Boeing 737 Max – the same aircraft used for frequent flights from Dublin and Shannon to the United States.

“Over €40m has been invested in infrastructure upgrades at the airport. Thanks to this, there is the capacity for two million more passengers annually, leaving the airport in a perfect position to add additional, high-volume routes.

“Further underpinning the proposal is the fact that Dublin Airport is projected to surpass its 32 million passenger cap this year. With over 70 buses travelling from Cork to Dublin Airport every day, the addition of transatlantic routes would alleviate pressure on Dublin while also servicing local demand.

“This expansion is critical for balanced regional development. Around the island of Ireland, Belfast, Dublin, and Shannon have seized this potential. There is no reason Cork Airport cannot play a similar role, transforming the commercial, tourism, and hospitality sectors in Cork and the broader region.

“We must end the inefficiency of over 70 buses traveling from Cork to Dublin Airport daily and establish a vital connection to the East Coast of the U.S”, concluded Cllr. Noel O’Donovan.