CORK AIRPORT

'Cork Airport' or 'Aerfort Chorcaí' in Irish. The airport is one of the three principal international airports in Ireland (Cork, Dublin and Shannon). It is located on the south side of Cork City in an area known as Ballygarvan. A growing number of destinations are available from Cork Airport in Europe, United Kingdom and Domestic. In 2006, Cork Airport handled over 3 million passengers, making it the Republic of Ireland's third busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers. Aer Lingus bases four aircraft at the airport making it an important European hub, and the airport is Aer Arann's busiest base.

History

In 1957 the Irish Government agreed in principle to the building of an airport for Cork City. After viewing many sites in the area it was agreed that the airport should be built at Ballygarvan. Tenders were invited for the construction of the airport in 1959 at an estimated cost of £1 million. The airport was officially opened on October 16, 1961. However, proving flights by Aer Lingus and Cambrian Airways (later taken over by British Airways) had taken place four days earlier. In its first year the airport handled 10,172 passengers - currently the equivalent to a quiet day at the airport. The average day sees the airport handling 12,450 passengers and on a busy day it can handle up to 15,000 passengers. Throughout the 1960s the airport expanded with more advanced aircraft and more destinations. The first jet, a BOAC Comet, landed at Cork Airport on March 29, 1964. By 1969 Aer Lingus were operating to London Heathrow, Manchester and Bristol.
On August 27, 1970 a unique event occurred. Due to adverse weather conditions at Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport Aer Lingus' transatlantic fleet (three Boeing 707s from New York, Boston and Chicago) were diverted to Cork. In 1972 the Duty Free shop opened for service. In 1975 Aer Rianta undertook a passenger terminal study aimed at improving the terminal facilities. The findings resulted in the provision, over the next couple of years, of new departure and arrival halls, new check-in area and office complex, new information desk, duty office and VIP Lounge. In 1977 a new Duty-free shop was opened, while the following year completed extensions and facilities were officially opened.
The 1980s began with an extension of the main apron being built. New services to London Gatwick began, while Aer Lingus' commuter division started a new internal service to Dublin Airport. In 1985 due to huge growth at the airport Aer Rianta carried out a survey of the terminal facilities with a view to carrying out a major expansion and development programme. On June 8, 1987 Ryanair began a new service at Cork Airport. In 1988 Phase 1 of the Terminal Expansion and Development Plan was completed. The following year the main runway extension of 1000 feet was opened.
The 1990s began with the completion of Phase II of the Terminal expansion in 1991 and Phase III being completed in 1992. The Terminal Expansion and Development Plan was completed in 1994. Duty free sales for travel within the European Union, a substantial income stream, ceased in 1999 but were retained for travellers to final destinations outside the EU.

Recent times

During 2005, Slattery Travel planned to inaugurate a charter service between Cork and JFK in New York. It was planned to use Boeing 757's of Ryan International Airlines. The new service had to be abandoned following high fuel surcharges.
A Great Southern Hotel was opened on the airport grounds during 2001. Plans were drawn up for the construction of a new terminal building. It was to cost an estimated €140 million. The first phase was to provide a new ATC (Air Traffic Control) Buildings, but this had never materialized until now (see facilities section). Along with the construction of the terminal, roads were to be re-aligned, a new multi-story car park constructed and new offices provided. It was originally planned to construct up to 5 airbridges with the terminal, but only one was installed. The new terminal opened its doors for all traffic on 15 August 2006. The new terminal is Ireland's first 21st century airport terminal. The terminal can handle up to 3 million passengers per annum, and if required new piers can be built to the north and south. The cost of the terminal has sparked much debate. The Department of Transport originally promised that the DAA would pay for the terminal. However, the outlook now predicts that Cork will have to take on some of the debt itself.
In March 2006 an online petition was started in an effort to persuade to operators to rename Cork Airport to Cork Rory Gallagher Airport as a permanent tribute to the popular late Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher, who was for many years a Cork citizen and frequent user of the airport. Similar calls were made in reference to Cork sporting stars Roy Keane, Sonia O'Sullivan and Christy Ring but the airport continues to be marketed internationally as simply Cork Airport.

Airport facilities

The Irish Aviation Authority has applied for planning permission to build a new control tower at Cork Airport located opposite the airport terminal, north-west of runway 17/35 separate from other airport buildings. The development will also consist of offices and Car parking spaces that will be utilized by airport staff. The tower will be positioned opposite the terminal- adjacent to the threshold of runway 25.

Geographical situation

At an elevation of 502ft above sea level, Cork is prone to fog and low cloud ceiling. The upgrading of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to Category II, and a 305m (1000ft) expansion of the main runway (17/35) have significantly reduced the number of diversions, but during times of inclement weather, Cork can still suffer from delays, or even diversions to Shannon, Dublin or Kerry. The length of the main runway has been a constraining factor on the growth of the airport in terms of long haul air transport. As a result of the runway length, the airport cannot handle fully laden large widebody aircraft. The biggest aircraft which has operated from Cork is the Boeing 747-400. The largest 'fully loaded' aircraft that can operate from Cork is the Boeing 767-200. However, such large aircraft do not visit Cork on a regular basis and are usually ad-hoc. Smaller light aircraft and Aer Arann's fleet of ATRs may operate from the shorter runway (07/25).

Operator

From its opening in 1961 the airport was managed by the Department of Transport and Power. Aer Rianta took control of Cork and Shannon airports on April 1, 1969 and the assets of the airports were transferred to the company under the ''Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998''. The name of Aer Rianta was changed to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) under the ''State Airports Act 2004'', which also created the Cork Airport Authority and the Shannon Airport Authority. These companies were charged with preparing a business plan in preparation for taking over the assets of their airports from the DAA not earlier than May 2005.
On dates yet to be confirmed, the Cork and Shannon Airport Authorities will have the relevant airport assets vested in them and assume full responsibility for the management, development and operation of Cork and Shannon airports respectively. In the interim, the board of the DAA has transferred significant day-to-day operational responsibility, under delegated authority, to the boards of the Cork and Shannon Airport Authorities.
The Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for all management of airfield safety and air traffic services. The control tower at Cork Airport is based at Compass House and houses both Tower and Approach Control.

Ground transport

Bus Éireann provides a regular service from the airport to the city centre which usually takes 25 minutes. Their service to Kinsale also calls at the airport.
SkyLink is a new airport shuttle bus service that provides transportation for passengers to all major hotels in the city on a half hourly basis.
Cork Airport, being in close proximity to the city centre by road (8 kilometres), has no railway station linking it to the main railway station. However Kent Station is across the River Lee from the bus station at Parnell Place in the city centre. From Kent Station, passengers can connect to both the Cork Suburban Rail or the Irish Rail national network.
The airport is also served by taxi. Taxis to the city centre cost about €15.
Car hire is available in the arrivals hall of the terminal building. Many car rental firms are located at the airport including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and Thrifty. Hire cars are conveniently located adjacent to the new multi-storey car park linked to the new terminal by a covered walkway. A complimentary shuttle bus service is provided to transfer passengers from the return car hire parks to the main terminal building.

Places to eat, drink and shop

The new terminal at Cork Airport has many places to eat. On the ground floor there is a Subway, Starbucks Coffee shop and a Londis supermarket serving hot and cold beverages and snacks. Upstairs there is a large food court modelled on Cork's famous English Market and a traditional Irish Pub - the Red Bar.
Beyond the security screening area are Travel Value and Duty Free shopping, a Lir Coffee and Chocolate Cafe, the Sports Bar which also serves hot food.
Hughes & Hughes operate two bookshops in the terminal - one on the ground floor in the check-in area and another in the departures area after security adjacent to the Sports Bar.
Internet access is available throughout the terminal. mcdonalsds

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled passenger airlines & destinations

★ Aer Arann (Belfast-City, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, Jersey, Leeds-Bradford, Lorient, Nantes, Southampton)

★ Aer Lingus (Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin-Schönefeld, Birmingham, Faro, London-Heathrow, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester [starts Winter 2007],Munich [starts 29 October 2007] Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino, Warsaw)

★ Air Southwest (Newquay [season ends 31 October 2007])

★ bmi

★
★ bmibaby (Birmingham, Manchester)

★ Centralwings (Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw)

★ Jet2.com (Newcastle)

★ Malév Hungarian Airlines (Budapest)

★ Ryanair (Dublin, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted)

★ SkyEurope (Bratislava) [Commences October 2007]

★ Wizz Air (Gdańsk, Katowice)

Charter airlines & destinations

★ Air Europa (Las Palmas, Palma)

★ Air Via (Bourgas)

★ Astraeus (Lanzarote, Verona, Zakynthos)

★ Austrian Airlines (Innsbruck, Salzburg)

★ Dubrovnik Airline (Dubrovnik, Split)

★ Eurocypria (Herakalion)

★ First Choice Airways (Palma)

★ Flightline (Almeria, Faro)

★ Futura (Bourgas, Corfu, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma, Reus, Tenerife-South)

★ Hemus Air (Bourgas)

★ Iberworld (Faro, Malaga, Palma, Reus)

★ LTE International Airways (Fuertuventura, Lanzarote, Las Palmas)

★ Monarch (Faro)

★ Nouvelair (Monastir)

★ Onur Air (Bodrum, Izmir)

★ Pegasus (Bodrum)

★ Spanair (Palma)

★ XL Airways (Lanzarote)
(Details correct as per Summer 2007 Schedule)

Scheduled freight airlines

★ Bluebird Cargo (Cologne-Bonn, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Keflavik)

★ DHL (East Midlands) Operated by Atlantic Express

★ TNT (Dublin, Liege-Bierset, Shannon)

Handling agents

★ Aer Lingus

★ Servisair

★ Sky Handling partner.

General aviation

Cork Airport has a long tradition of general aviation flying. Three training organisations operate from the airport. These are: Atlantic Flight Training, Southaer (both fixed wing) and Blue Star Helicopters (rotary). Munster Flying Club operated from the airport until the year 2000.

External links

★ Cork Airport

★

References

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