Spread of Cork flights crucial post Brexit

A VIABLE spread of routes out of Cork Airport is essential in order to spread the risk in a post-Brexit situation. 

That’s according to Enniskeane businessman and long-time supporter of Cork Airport, John Hosford, who was responding to the announcement last week that Norwegian Airlines is axing its winter service from Cork to Boston Providence. The Scandanavian airline will operate a summer-only, July-October service next year, and say thiswill only continue if there’s strong public support. 

Mr Hosford said: ‘Obviously I am keen that the route is not only retained, but grows, and I hope with strong support at both sides of the Atlantic that a winter service will be restored. The various bodies have been extremely supportive of the initiation of this route. I encourage all tourist interests and the general public to support the route and spread the word on the route.’

He added: ‘New and existing routes must be supported in every way possible. It is important that we have a basket of viable routes with a high load factor. A successful and viable spread of routes is also essential to spread the risk in a post-Brexit situation.’

He said that ‘good connectivity is an essential tool’ in attracting tourism and industry to the south-west.

‘I warmly welcome the announcement of direct Aer Lingus services from Cork to Lisbon which are scheduled to commence on October 26th on a year-round basis,’ he said. He also welcomed Air France’s new service to Paris Charles de Gaulle and commended what he called the ‘hard work, dedication and drive’ of the management marketing team at the airport. The airport is a pivotal cog in the infrastructure of the region, he added.