New Frankfurt service to boost airport this summer

For the first time in 18 years, people will be able to fly between Cork and the German city of Frankfurt. Lufthansa is to commence a twice-weekly Cork-Frankfurt service this summer in a welcome vote of confidence in Cork Airport.

Beginning on 25 June, Lufthansa will offer two flights per week on Monday and Friday. The flight will depart Frankfurt Airport at 15.40 local time, arriving at Cork Airport at 16.45. The flight will depart Cork at 17.25 landing in Frankfurt at 20.30 local time, a flight time of two hours and five minutes.

Lufthansa (operated by Lufthansa CityLine) will operate a Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft with 75 seats on board - 15 business class and 60 economy class. Headquartered in Frankfurt, Lufthansa is one of the largest airlines in Europe.

This new Lufthansa operation will complement the existing Swiss International Airlines service, with both airlines offering seamless connectivity through their Lufthansa group hubs at Frankfurt and Zurich respectively.

Niall MacCarthy Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “These are challenging times for aviation globally, so it is heartening to see Lufthansa make this important decision now, to start services from Cork Airport this summer. We have worked long and hard over many years to secure connectivity to Frankfurt and beyond with Lufthansa for a myriad of businesses and internationally trading companies across the south of Ireland.”

Andreas Koester, Senior Director Sales UK, Ireland and Iceland for the Lufthansa Group, said: “We are pleased to announce that a second airline within the Lufthansa Group will be serving Cork. Starting in the summer schedule, Lufthansa will also be offering flights from Cork, alongside Swiss International Airlines, emphasizing the importance of Ireland within our network. Furthermore, with this additional connection, we are looking forward to offering our customers even more travel options within our world-wide, multi-hub system. As one of the largest carriers in Europe, with just a short stopover in Frankfurt, our customers will have access to hundreds of connections to numerous destinations within our vast, global network.”

Cork Chamber welcomed the news describing it as a show of “positivity and faith in international connectivity to Cork” despite current exceptional circumstances.

Paula Cogan, Cork Chamber President said: “If you asked 12 months ago what the next route required of business in Cork was, Frankfurt would have been top of the list for many business travellers. In our most recent international connectivity survey, it was the comfortably the most highly sought-after destination for addition to the Cork Airport roster. Post-Brexit, direct routes to Europe with excellent onward connections will be vital for Cork’s economic growth.”

“It is essential that the routes are robustly supported, and Government must commit with vigour to the recapture of our international connectivity. Significant capital investment is required to ensure that the infrastructure, including the runway is poised for the return of significant volume. Full recovery will take time and Cork Airport must be supported by multi-year operational and capitals supports under the Regional Airports Capex Programme.”