Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton TD has officially launched Cork Airport’s biggest-ever winter schedule.
Details
The schedule features over 1.1 million seats across 27 routes, served by five airlines, and it will operate from 30 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Statements
Speaking at the launch of the Cork Airport 2022/23 winter schedule, Minister Naughton said, “Aviation plays a critical role in our economy, as a direct and indirect employer, and serves as a driving force for tourism and business. Recognising this, government provided over €161 million last year for aviation-specific supports, including over €25 million to Cork Airport. Almost €17 million of this funding supported the airport’s runway reconstruction project, as well as all the airport’s eligible safety- and security-related operational costs. In addition, supplementary supports of €8 million provided the airport with the flexibility to offer route incentives and other incentives to stimulate the restoration of scheduled air services. This is demonstrated in the impressive winter schedule of services that will operate from Cork Airport. It provides further enhancement of international connectivity for Cork and the wider region, and reflects the airport’s continued positive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Government is continuing to support Cork Airport – €5.5 million in capital funding was allocated to Cork Airport earlier this year, to complete a broad range of safety-, security- and sustainability-focused projects, and I intend to provide further funding to Cork Airport later this year, from the €22 million allocation in operational funding for our regional airports.
“Finally, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the staff to this ongoing recovery in what has been a challenging time for the sector.”
Acting managing director at Cork Airport Roy O’Driscoll stated, “The recovery and growth of passenger traffic at Cork Airport this year has been tremendously strong, buoyed by an extremely busy summer. With 2.1 million passengers expected to travel to and from Cork Airport in 2022, we are aiming to build on that growth by offering our biggest-ever winter schedule to our loyal and valued passengers across Munster and the south of Ireland.
“The addition of two new exciting destinations – Rome and Newcastle – complements the schedule by offering extensive choice and variety to passengers seeking a city break. I’m confident that the extension of several summer routes right through the winter will also prove popular with passengers when booking a getaway to warmer climates this winter. I would like to thank Minister Hildegarde Naughton for her presence here today, for launching our biggest-ever winter schedule and for meeting with us to discuss our request for continued government Exchequer support for Cork Airport. I am grateful to her and her officials for their continued commitment and steadfast support of the growth and development of Cork Airport.”
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