Runway upgrade set for take off

Cork Airport officials have shrugged off criticism from Ryanair over the decision to carry out a necessary runway upgrade this year.

On Tuesday, Ryanair announced it would not be reopening its Cork base until the winter due to Cork Airport’s “crazy plan to dig up its runway” during the months of September, October and November.

Passenger numbers at the airport are currently at an all-time low of one per cent of the normal amount, which officials believe offers the perfect opportunity to “fast track” the project.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Head of Communications at Cork Airport, Kevin Cullinane said all other airlines, bar Ryanair, are happy to see the project get underway as soon as possible.

He added that the airport could hardly lose more than 99 per cent of its customers and said that an airport without a runway is not an airport.

“We've been talking to all of our airlines about this runway reconstruction project since last autumn. It makes perfect sense to fast track it now while aviation is extremely quiet,” he said. Mr Cullinane said the project will see a complete reconstruction of the 2.133km runway which will require the excavation of the equivalent of 20 soccer pitches.

He added that it is not a project to be taken lightly and is something that is necessary for all airports to carry out every 15-20 years.

Ryanair has said it will continue to fly to and from Cork Airport in 2021 but only with aircrafts that are based at other airports, such as London Stansted.

The airline also criticised the Irish Government’s international travel restrictions which it said are imposed on inbound airport and port visitors, while the 300 mile border with Northern Ireland remains open.

Ryanair also called on An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to provide a clear roadmap for the recovery of Cork Airport.