Cork Airport

Cork Airport (IATA: ORK, ICAO: EICK) or Aerfort Chorcaí in Irish, is one of Ireland's principal airports, situated on the south side of Cork City in an area known as Ballygarvan. The airport is currently operated by Dublin Airport Authority. Cork Airport handles scheduled and charter flights to domestic and European destinations as well as international cargo services and general aviation. In 2006, Cork Airport handled over 3 million passengers , making it the Republic of Ireland's third busiest airport. Aer Lingus and Aer Arann are the largest operators at Cork Airport by number of aircraft movements. It acts as a main European hub for Aer Lingus and an important hub for Aer Arann. It has recently added new direct routes to Poland with Wizz Air and Centralwings.

New terminal

Cork Airport's new terminal building, and Ireland's only 21st Century airport, opened its doors on August 1, 2006 for arriving passengers and from August 15, 2006 for all passengers. The new terminal has 30 check-in desks and six times the baggage capacity of the former terminal at Cork. There is controversy over who will pay for the debt associated with the development of the airport in the last four years. In 2003, the then Minister for Transport Séamus Brennan stated that the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) would start out debt free once Aer Rianta was disbanded and that the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) would absorb the debt in return for the Great Southern Hotel chain and Duty Free. However in 2006, The Minister claimed that Cork would have to foot the bill of €220 million itself. The latest resolution offered by the government is that the DAA would absorb €120 million of the debt. This leaves the Cork Airport Authority with a debt of €100million

The new terminal was designed to cater for the expected 3 million passengers in 2006, and, if required it can be expanded to cater for 5 Million Passengers per Annum. The terminal can accommodate 5 Air Bridges, however only 1 air-bridge has been commissioned. It is used by Aer Lingus, Central Wings and selected Charter flights (It is not used by Ryanair due to the costs associated with using it, and partly due to increased turn around times). It is believed that a second airbridge will be commissioned shortly, hopefully followed by many more. The new terminal has an increased number of shops, bars and restaurants, including a Subway and Ireland's only Starbucks outside Dublin. It was suggested that Ryanair take over the operation of the old terminal. However, it was later decided that the old terminal be demolished.

Cork Airport is soon due to receive a new control tower.

Geographical Situation

At an elevation of 502ft above sea level, Cork is prone to occasional fog and low cloud ceiling. The upgrading of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to Category II, and a 1000ft expansion of the main runway (17/35) have significantly reduced the number of diversions, but during times of inclement weather, Cork can still suffer from delays, or even diversions to Shannon, Dublin or Kerry. The length of the main runway has been a constraining factor on the growth of the airport in terms of long haul air transport. As a result of the runway length, the airport cannot handle fully laden large widebody aircraft. The biggest aircraft which can operate from Cork is the Boeing 747-400. The largest 'fully loaded' aircraft that can operate from Cork is the Boeing 767-200. However, such large aircraft do not visit Cork on a regular basis and are usually ad-hoc. Smaller light aircraft and Aer Arann's fleet of ATRs may operate from the shorter runway (07/25).

Operator

From its opening in 1961 the airport was managed by the Department of Transport and Power. Aer Rianta took control of Cork and Shannon airports on April 1, 1969 and the assets of the airports were transferred to the company under the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998. The name of Aer Rianta was changed to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) under the State Airports Act 2004, which also created the Cork Airport Authority and the Shannon Airport Authority. These companies were charged with preparing a business plan in preparation for taking over the assets of their airports from the DAA not earlier than May 2005. As Dublin Airport does not have sufficient distributable reserves under company law, the separation of Cork (and Shannon) will not be completed for at least another year.

The Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for all management of airfield safety and air traffic services. The control tower at Cork Airport is based at Compass House and houses both Tower and Approach Control.

History

In 1957 the Irish Government agreed in principle to the building of an airport for Cork City. After viewing many sites in the area it was agreed that the airport should be built at Ballygarvan. Tenders were invited for the construction of the airport in 1959 at an estimated cost of £1 million. The airport was officially opened on October 16, 1961. However, proving flights by Aer Lingus and Cambrian Airways (later taken over by British Airways) had taken place four days earlier. In its first year the airport handled 10,172 passengers - currently the equivalent to a quiet day at the airport. The average day sees the airport handling 12,450 passengers and on a busy day it can handle up to 15,000 passengers. Throughout the 1960s the airport expanded with more advanced aircraft and more destinations. The first jet, a BOAC Comet, landed at Cork Airport on March 29, 1964. By 1969 Aer Lingus were operating to London Heathrow, Manchester and Bristol.

On August 27, 1970 a unique event occurred. Due to adverse weather conditions at Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport Aer Lingus' transatlantic fleet (three Boeing 707s from New York, Boston and Chicago) were diverted to Cork. In 1972 the Duty Free shop opened for service. In 1975 Aer Rianta undertook a passenger terminal study aimed at improving the terminal facilities. The findings resulted in the provision, over the next couple of years, of new departure and arrival halls, new check-in area and office complex, new information desk, duty office and VIP Lounge. In 1977 a new Duty-free shop was opened, while the following year completed extensions and facilities were officially opened.

The 1980s began with an extension of the main apron being built. New services to London Gatwick began, while Aer Lingus' commuter division started a new internal service to Dublin Airport. In 1985 due to huge growth at the airport Aer Rianta carried out a survey of the terminal facilities with a view to carrying out a major expansion and development programme. On June 8, 1987 Ryanair began a new service at Cork Airport. In 1988 Phase 1 of the Terminal Expansion and Development Plan was completed. The following year the main runway extension of 1000 feet was opened.

The 1990s began with the completion of Phase II of the Terminal expansion in 1991 and Phase III being completed in 1992. The Terminal Expansion and Development Plan was completed in 1994. Duty free sales for travel within the European Union, a substantial income stream, ceased in 1999 but were retained for travellers to final destinations outside the EU.

The Aer Rianta run Great Southern Hotels opened a hotel on the airport campus in 2001. The first phase of the newest expansion, originally estimated at €140 million was launched in 2003. The project was to provide a new air traffic control building (an element since parked), a multistorey car park, improved internal roads, realigned and improved utility services and a new passenger terminal. The new terminal has been the subject of much local controversy for a number of reasons. Originally designed with 4 airbridges, only one has since been installed due to the reluctance by Low Cost Carriers to use them as they perceive they slow down their turnaround times. Despite promises by the then Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, that the costs of the new terminal and other capital investments would be assumed by the DAA, it now seems likely that Cork will have to take on some of the debt. Recent newspaper reports have indicated a high level of satisfaction from arriving passengers of the new terminal given the new facilities, airy space and almost three times the size of the old terminal, in terms of floorspace. The new terminal opened on August 1 for arrivals and opened on August 15 2006 for all flights. The new terminal has increased the annual capacity to 3 million passengers (Cork handled 3 million passengers in 2006). The design of the new terminal allows for pier extensions north and south which would increase capacity to 5 million in the future if required.

A charter service from Cork to JFK, New York was planned using 210-seat Boeing 757 equipment for Autumn 2005 but an increase in the cost per seat (due to fuel costs) charged by the charter company forced the cancellation of the service prior to the first trip.

Cork Airport, like all airports is not immune to severe weather difficulties, particulalry strong winds, fog and a low cloud ceiling. Fog is the most common problem as the airport is built on a hill above the city. The airport is equipped with a Category II Instrument Landing System but if weather conditions are below the minimum requirements for a Cat II landing, flights are diverted to neighbouring airports.

The new terminal opened on August 15 2006 to all operations (scheduled & charter [inbound & outbound]). This signalled the end of a long wait for Ireland's only 21st century airport.

In March 2006 an online petition was started in an affort to persuade to operators to rename Cork Airport to Cork Rory Gallagher Airport as a permanent tribute to the popular late Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher, who was for many years a Cork citizen and frequent user of the airport. Similar calls were made in reference to Cork sporting stars Roy Keane, Sonia O'Sullivan and Christy Ring but the airport continues to be marketed internationally as simply Cork Airport.

Ground Transportation

Bus Éireann provides a regular service from the airport to the city centre which usually takes 25 minutes. Their service to Kinsale also calls at the airport.

SkyLink is a new airport shuttle bus service that provides transportation for passengers to all major hotels in the city on a half hourly basis.

Cork Airport, being in close proximity to the city centre(8 kilometres) by road has no railway station linking it to the main railway station. However Kent Station is across the River Lee from the Bus Station at Parnell Place in the city centre. From Kent Station, passengers can connect to both the Cork Suburban Rail or the Irish Rail national network.

The airport is also served by taxi and hackney cabs. Taxis to the city centre cost about €15.

Car hire is available in the arrivals hall of the terminal building. Many car rental firms are located at the airport including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty. Hire cars are conveniently located adjacent to the new multi-stroey car park linked to the new terminal by a covered walkway. A complimentary shuttle bus service is provided to transfer passengers from the return car hire parks to the main terminal building.

Places to eat, drink and shop

The new terminal at Cork Airport has many places to eat. On the ground floor there is a Subway, Starbucks Coffee shop and a Londis supermarket serving hot and cold beverages and snacks. Upstairs there is a large food court modelled on Cork's famous English Market and a traditional Irish Pub - the Red Bar.

Beyond the security screening area, passengers can avail of Travel Value and Duty Free shopping, a Lir Coffee and Chocolate Cafe, the Sports Bar which also serves hot food.

Hughes & Hughes operate two bookshops in the terminal - one on the ground floor in the check-in area and another in the departures area after security adjacent to the Sports Bar.

Internet access is available throughout the terminal.

Airlines and destinations

The following scheduled airlines use Cork Airport (Summer 2007):

• Aer Arann (Belfast-City, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, Leeds-Bradford, Lorient, Nantes, Newquay, Southampton)
• Aer Lingus (Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin-Schönefeld, Birmingham, Faro, Lanzarote, London-Heathrow, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino, Warsaw)
• Air Southwest (Newquay [Starts May 2007])
• Bmibaby (Birmingham, Manchester)
• Centralwings (Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw)
• Jet2.com (Newcastle)
• Malév Hungarian Airlines (Budapest)
• Ryanair (Dublin, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted)
• Wizz Air (Gdańsk, Katowice)

Charter Airlines & Destinations

• Air Europa (Las Palmas, Palma)
• Air Via (Bourgas)
• Astraeus (Lanzarote)
• Austrian Airlines (Innsbruck, Salzburg)
• Dubrovnik Airline (Dubrovnik, Split)
• Eurocypria (Herakalion)
• First Choice Airways (Palma)
• Flightline (Almeria, Faro)
• Futura (Bourgas, Corfu, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma, Reus, Tenerife-South)
• Hemus Air (Bourgas)
• Iberworld (Faro, Malaga, Palma, Reus)
• LTE International Airways (Fuertuventura, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Verona)
• Monarch (Faro)
• Nouvelair (Monastir)
• Onur Air (Bodrum, Izmir)
• Pegasus (Bodrum)
• Spanair (Palma)
• XL Airways (Lanzarote)

(Details correct as per 2007 Summer Schedule)

Handling agents

• Aer Lingus
• Servisair
• Sky Handling partner.

Cargo airlines

Cargo plays a vital role in the future of Cork Airport. A new cargo village, south of the airport, on 40 acres, will be developed to serve existing and new cargo customers. Three cargo airlines currently operate from Cork Airport:

• TNT
• DHL
• Bluebird Cargo (Operating on behalf of United Parcel Service)

General Aviation

Unlike some of the other Irish Airports, Cork has a long history of general aviation flying. Up until 2000 the Munster Flying Club had been operating from Cork Airport, but these are all gone now, and the clubhouse lies derelict. A flying school, Southaer is based at the airport, offering flying lessons and aircraft hire as well as Atlantic Flight Training Centre which is based at the same location. Bluestar Helicopters, another training organisation also operate from this site.

External links

• Cork Airport
• Template:WAD
• Cork-Spotters