The ultimatum from Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary this week has brought into sharp focus just how badly Cork Airport has been let down by Fianna Fáil. Cork is facing the worst possible outcomes as a result of political, not managerial decisions.

Currently the board, which is not inclined to fight its corner anyway, has no leader and no autonomy from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). The DAA which is still in charge in Cork has ample motivation to operate against Cork’s interests as an independent Cork Airport would be one of their main competitors so it is no surprise that it makes bad for Cork Airport.

This whole mess stems from political decisions taken collectively by Fianna Fáil to lumber Cork with debts that an airport of its size cannot sustain and remain competitive. The subsequent wrangling, which continues, has left Cork Airport in a state of slow decline and stagnation.

With the completion of the new motorways Cork Airport could have offered a real alternative to Dublin easily accessible for many people from across the country making a real impact on developing a proper spatial strategy. Instead we are left with an airport which cannot attract new routes, is losing existing routes and doesn’t even have an air bridge.

The old, terminal which isn’t so old, lies idle and those who need to take the decisons refuse to do so. Unfortunately the only influential Dublin politician who truly believed in Cork’s debt-free independence is dead. His name was Seamus Brennan.

Comments (1) »

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written by Dan McCarthy, November 09, 2008

The airport is vitally important to Cork City and region. Common sense would have the most up to date landing systems installed; fully automatic,CAT 111, comes to mind. Up on that hill it is badly needed in foggy weather. It needs to be totally independent from DAA.

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