The number of people that passed through Cork Airport declined by 80% year-on-year in 2020 to 530,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airport said that passenger traffic declined across all of the geographical markets served by the airport.
Passenger traffic to and from southern Europe decreased the most, declining by 87% year-on-year, while passenger traffic to and from western Europe declined by 80%, passenger traffic to and from UK provincial cities declined by 81%, and passenger traffic to and from London declined by 76%.
"A Year Like No Other"
Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy stated, "2020 has been a year like no other for Cork Airport. We have gone from over fifty routes across eight scheduled airlines to two routes with two airlines. Our story is no different than other airports and other businesses across the world.
"No doubt, we have a long journey to travel back as we regrow our network out of Cork and become an engine of growth for the south of Ireland economy once again. We are already working on our recovery plans with the support of our parent group DAA so that we can rebuild our UK and continental European networks as soon as possible and reconnect Cork with the world, when it is safe to do so and when the demand is in place. In addition, this year, we will progress the largest construction project undertaken at Cork Airport since the new terminal was built in 2006 with a reconstruction of our main runway and airfield electrical infrastructure which will extend its life and support our business over the next twenty years."
Operational And Capital Assistance
MacCarthy added, "The team here at Cork Airport welcome the announcement of operational and capital assistance for Cork Airport by the Irish government to assist our recovery in 2021 and beyond as the vaccine rolls out and travel recovers. Ultimately, our vision is that the new network out of Cork in the years ahead is not just the same as the old but, over time, that it is even bigger and better whilst re-growing jobs and connectivity for the whole south of Ireland economy."
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
