SPECIAL REPORT/CORK AIRPORT: ‘We would prefer to always fly from Cork Airport, if we could'

WHEN The Southern Star visited Cork Airport recently, it was at lunch-time on an August Friday afternoon, and while there was a steady stream of passengers coming and going, there were still just a few tables in the main restaurant occupied, and people dotted here and there throughout the ground floor.

Although there were plenty of people milling around, it was a far cry from the hustle and bustle you would see in most medium sized airports on a Friday afternoon at high season.

‘Years ago I used to always drive to Dublin to the airport, but now I always go from Cork,’ said Helen Moynihan from Dungarvan, who was at the airport with her son, Darren.

Darren, who lives in Waterford city, was flying out to Gran Canaria from Cork, but admitted he had booked his return journey through Dublin, because it was cheaper.

‘I think we’d both prefer to always fly from Cork, if we could,’ said Helen. ‘It’s very quiet here today, – except for the car park, which is still busy – but generally Dublin is cheaper.’

Darren said that with the improvement in roads, he was just as happy to go from Waterford to Dublin, as go from  Cork, but he did like the way you could get dropped right at the door at Cork, and that the airport was relatively quick and easy to get through.

They both commented that they miss being able to watch passengers on the runway. ‘In the old terminal, you could watch someone get on their plane,’ remembered Helen, as she prepared to say goodbye to Darren at the entrance to Departures.

Heading for the same flight were Leanne Hayes from Douglas and Stephen Moore from Rochestown. They both said they were happy to fly from Cork but John Moore, was seeing them off with Ann Moore, said he wouldn’t hesitate to get a flight from Dublin, as it was often cheaper. ‘You can get up to Dublin on the bus now for €15,’ he said, adding that when he flies to Sorrento, he has to go from Dublin, and has no problem with it.

Geraldine Husted was flying back to Stansted after a holiday in Ireland, with George and Amy Husted. ‘I prefer the old terminal,’ she said, adding that she has been to Cork on holidays, visiting relations, many times. She had arrived three hours early for her flight, because she had to drop her rental car back, and had sampled one of the six catering options.

‘I found it quite good, not particulary expensive, but we are going through to Departures now and I am not sure if there is much to do. The kids are delighted with the free wifi, though,’ she admitted.

‘It’s lovely and quiet here too’, she said.