Ryanair have announced their big winter plans, to include a new aircraft, new routes and new jobs at Cork.
Kicking off their Winter 2023/2024 offering with 23 new routes, a new B737 aircraft based at Cork and 30 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers at the base.
Five of the new routes are to Barcelona, Fuertaventura, Paris, Seville and Treviso. There’s also increased frequency on their existing routes to Faro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga, Rome and Tenerife.
Investment built on growth
As part of the announcement Ryanair released a statement: “Ryanair is Cork’s No. 1 airline operating 23 routes and carrying 2.3m passengers p.a. to/from Cork Airport, providing customers in Munster and South-Leinster with unbeatable choice at the lowest fares.”
“This unrivalled Cork growth (+15% vs. FY23) is not only underpinned by Ryanair’s $300m investment (3 based aircraft) and support of over 90 high pay crew and engineering jobs.”
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“It is also driven by Cork Airport’s long-term commitment to maintain competitive airport charges, providing the cost certainty for airlines, like Ryanair, to invest and grow in the region.”
The announcement continued: Ryanair has led Europe’s post-Covid recovery throughout Europe operating at 130% pre-Covid levels and through the airline’s continued growth and investment, Cork Airport will fully recover its pre-Covid traffic this year – 2 years sooner than expected.
Ryanair’s growing traffic to/from Cork Airport provides Cork and the wider Munster/ South-Leinster regions with invaluable inbound tourism, jobs, and local business support, particularly in the off-peak Winter season.
Not just summer destinations
Speaking in Cork, Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: “Ryanair is pleased to provide even more choice and lower fares to our Cork customers/visitors for Winter 23/24, with 23 routes, incl. 5 new routes from Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Paris, Seville and Treviso.”
“As well as increased frequencies on another 6 routes, incl. popular winter sun and city break destinations like Faro, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Malaga, Rome and Tenerife.”
“To support Ryanair’s biggest ever Winter schedule to/from Cork, we have added 1 new aircraft at Cork Airport, bringing our total based aircraft to 3 – a $300m investment and creating over 30 new high pay jobs.”
Ryanair’s continued growth and investment at Cork is a direct result of the cost certainty provided by Cork Airport’s long-term commitment to maintain competitive airport charges.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Cork Airport to further deliver important regional development, connectivity, jobs and year-round tourism into the Winter 23/24 season,” said Brady.
Supporting development at Cork
Tara Finn, Head of Aviation Business Development at Cork Airport, said: “Ryanair’s continued commitment to growth at Cork Airport is extremely welcome and this announcement of five new winter routes, along with increased frequencies on six routes is an incredible offering for consumers across the South of Ireland this winter.”
New winter city break destination such as Paris, Seville, and Barcelona along with winter sun services to Fuerteventura make up an exciting range of winter destinations, all direct from Cork Airport.
“The presence of Ryanair at Cork Airport today is not a coincidence, as we are delighted to welcome our 2 millionth passenger so far this year.”
“Cork Airport is on track to welcome a total of 2.7m passengers this year and as the most popular airport in the South of Ireland, we look forward to welcoming passengers from across Munster and South Leinster as they jet off on a winter sun or city break from Cork Airport over the coming months.”
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