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Ryanair has announced an investment of $200m in Ireland’s Cork Airport (ORK), reopening its two-aircraft base at the airport and restoring all pre-Covid flights from the third quarter of 2022.
With this investment, the Irish carrier will bring 20 routes to Cork Airport, including new services to Birmingham and Edinburgh that were originally operated by Stobart Air before its recent collapse.
For the past several months, Cork Airport and the DAA have been working with Ryanair to extend the traffic recovery scheme until October next year to incentivise Ryanair’s traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels.
The scheme’s extension is said to secure 60 Ryanair jobs.
Ryanair Designated Activity Company (DAC) CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Ryanair is delighted to confirm the reopening of its two-aircraft base at Cork Airport.
“This $200m investment secures 60 Ryanair jobs at Cork, but, more importantly, restores passenger traffic at Cork to pre-pandemic levels for summer 2022.
“Cork, along with Shannon, Kerry and Knock, have had their Ryanair traffic fully restored to pre-pandemic levels of capacity ensuring the recovery of tourism, jobs and connectivity.”
Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said: “I am delighted with today’s announcement by Ryanair reopening their base at Cork Airport in December.
“Twenty routes on sale from Cork Airport on the Ryanair website will ensure that Christmas 2021, spring and summer 2022 contains lots of travel options for our passengers.
“Outbound sun and city breaks and inbound visitors from the UK and Continental Europe is good news for jobs in aviation, tourism and hospitality and the rebound of our economy in 2022.”