Ryanair Announces Two Route Closures At Cork
EASTMIDLANDS & GLASGOW ROUTES TO STOP IN OCTOBER
AS CORK AIRPORT RAISES FEES BY 20%
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline today (Wednesday, 27th August 2008) announced that it will close two of the seven routes it operates from Cork following the 20% increase in charges being imposed on these two routes by Cork Airport. From the end of October Ryanair will close its daily routes to/from Cork to East Midlands and Glasgow (Prestwick).
The daily East Midlands flight will cease on 26th October, while the daily service to Glasgow (Prestwick) will stop on the 28th October. These cancellations will result in loss of 100,000 passengers at Cork this winter (200,000 in a full year) and amounts to a 6% drop in traffic using Cork Airport. The loss of this traffic will now cost Cork up to €20,000,000 annually and will result in up to 200 local jobs being lost.
Speaking today in Cork, Michael O’Leary said:
“We regret that we have to close these two daily routes to/from Cork. However, a 20% increase in airport charges on these routes reduces our ability to offer really low fares at a time of higher oil prices and these higher costs will make these two new routes loss making this winter.
“The loss of these flights, 200,000 passengers, €20,000,000 in tourism revenue and 200 jobs could have been avoided if Cork Airport had agreed to continue the current low cost agreement on these routes. However, Ryanair can not and will not absorb a 20% increase in costs just to keep loss making routes open at a high cost airport like Cork”.
EASTMIDLANDS & GLASGOW ROUTES TO STOP IN OCTOBER
AS CORK AIRPORT RAISES FEES BY 20%
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline today (Wednesday, 27th August 2008) announced that it will close two of the seven routes it operates from Cork following the 20% increase in charges being imposed on these two routes by Cork Airport. From the end of October Ryanair will close its daily routes to/from Cork to East Midlands and Glasgow (Prestwick).
The daily East Midlands flight will cease on 26th October, while the daily service to Glasgow (Prestwick) will stop on the 28th October. These cancellations will result in loss of 100,000 passengers at Cork this winter (200,000 in a full year) and amounts to a 6% drop in traffic using Cork Airport. The loss of this traffic will now cost Cork up to €20,000,000 annually and will result in up to 200 local jobs being lost.
Speaking today in Cork, Michael O’Leary said:
“We regret that we have to close these two daily routes to/from Cork. However, a 20% increase in airport charges on these routes reduces our ability to offer really low fares at a time of higher oil prices and these higher costs will make these two new routes loss making this winter.
“The loss of these flights, 200,000 passengers, €20,000,000 in tourism revenue and 200 jobs could have been avoided if Cork Airport had agreed to continue the current low cost agreement on these routes. However, Ryanair can not and will not absorb a 20% increase in costs just to keep loss making routes open at a high cost airport like Cork”.