Monday, 6th July 2015
- Aer Lingus announces new route from Cork to Dusseldorf
These new flights serving Dusseldorf offer a new destination from Cork Airport and will have an economic dividend for Cork City and County. This decision by Aer Lingus again underlines the obvious potential that exists for developing business at Cork Airport. The fact that it follows hot on the heels of a new route directly to London City Airport shows that airlines have confidence in both Cork Airport and our region.
The addition of an Aer Lingus flight to Dusseldorf further increases the choice of destinations on offer for passengers using Cork Airport. Already Cork Airport is the second busiest in the country offering more destinations than any airport outside of Dublin. Now that Cork Airport has a new route it reaffirms its status and demonstrates the progress that is being made in expanding the options available for both business and leisure travel.
Aer Lingus has clearly realised the potential that Cork Airport offers, recognising that it serves a region with a large population and is on the doorstep of an expanding business sector. This shows confidence by the airline in Cork Airport and in our County. Now we must ensure that this new route is marketed and promoted to ensure that it delivers for both the airline and our region.
Expanding the choice of destinations from Cork Airport is an important part of growing business and increasing passenger numbers. One aspect that needs to be addressed is the number of inbound passengers using the airport. We need to entice business people and tourists from the destinations served by Cork Airport to come to our city and county. This can only happen with a unified marketing strategy that sells Cork abroad. Fáilte Ireland and the two councils have a responsibility to fast-track their plans for developing a new marketing strategy for Cork and to ensure it is implemented as soon as possible.