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Cork Airport

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Cork Airport

Aerfort Chorcaí
File:Cork Airport.gif
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorDublin Airport Authority
ServesCork, Ireland
Elevation AMSL502 ft / 153 m
Coordinates51°50′29″N 008°29′28″W / 51.84139°N 8.49111°W / 51.84139; -8.49111
Websitewww.corkairport.com
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 2,133 6,998 Asphalt
07/25 1,310 4,298 Concrete/Asphalt
Sources: Airport website[1], Irish AIP at EUROCONTROL[2] and DAFIF[3][4]

Cork Airport, (Irish: Aerfort Chorcaí) (IATA: ORK, ICAO: EICK) is one of the three principal international airports in the Republic of Ireland (along with Dublin and Shannon). It is located around 8 km south of Cork City in an area known as Ballygarvan. A number of Irish, British and European destinations are served from Cork Airport. In 2007, Cork Airport handled 3.2 million passengers,[5] 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, with Aer Arann and Ryanair also having a large presence.

History

1957 to 1979

In 1957 the Irish Government agreed in principle to the building of an airport for Cork City. After considering 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, following proving flights four days earlier by Aer Lingus and Cambrian Airways (later taken over by British Airways). In its first year the airport handled 10,172 passengers - close to the average number of passengers handled each day at the airport in 2006. Throughout the 1960s the airport expanded with the arrival of more advanced aircraft and more destinations. The first jet, a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Comet, landed at Cork Airport on March 29, 1964. By 1969 Aer Lingus were operating to London Heathrow, Manchester and Bristol.

In 1975 Aer Rianta (Dublin Airport Authority) undertook a passenger terminal study aimed at improving the terminal facilities. The findings resulted in the provision, over the next two years, of new departure and arrival halls, a new check-in area and office complex, a new information desk, duty office and executive lounge. The following year completed extensions and facilities were officially opened in 1978.

1979 to 2000

The 1980s began with an extension of the main apron. New services to London Gatwick began, while Aer Lingus' commuter division started a new domestic service to Dublin Airport. In 1985 following significant growth 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 commenced services at Cork Airport. In 1988 Phase I of the Terminal Expansion and Development Plan was completed. The following year the main runway extension of 1,000 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.

2001 to date

Inside of the new airport terminal, viewing the check-in area

A Great Southern Hotel was opened on the airport grounds during 2001, and plans were drawn up for the construction of a new terminal building at an estimated cost of €140 million. Along with the construction of the terminal, roads were re-aligned, a new multi-storey 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 Aer Rianta/DAA managed development of the new facilities suffered from major expense overruns which resulted in the final cost being almost double the original €140 million estimate. [citation needed]

On 11 April 2008 the board of Cork Airport Authority agreed by one vote to accept responsibility for a debt of €113 million incurred by the Dublin Airport Authority in the redevelopment of Cork Airport in order to secure independence from Dublin Airport. The Cork Airport Authority Board also stated that their strong reservations about the level of debt that Cork Airport was being levied with and the potential impact on its future sustainability. [citation needed]. On 21 April 2008 Cork Airport Authority chairman Joe Gantly announced his resignation effective from the end of July 2008 by which time he will have completed 5 years service with the Board.

The new terminal was opened on 15 August 2006. The new terminal is Ireland's first 21st century airport terminal. In terms of further expansion, the terminal can be extended in the form of additional piers which can be constructed to the north and south. Proposals by Ryanair to use the former Cork terminal as a base for its Cork operations have to date been resisted by the controlling Authority. [citation needed]

The Irish Aviation Authority has begun planning 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 for control tower staff. The tower will be positioned opposite the terminal, adjacent to the threshold of runway 25.

A number of new destinations have been announced from Cork in 2008, including Aer Arann services to Brest and La Rochelle, Air Southwest to Plymouth, Ryanair to Carcassonne and Aer Lingus to Jersey. There have also been a number of service withdrawals including Malev to Budapest, Aer Lingus' and CentralWings' services to Warsaw and all other CentralWings' routes from Cork.

Geographical situation

With an elevation of 135 m (502 ft) above sea level, Cork Airport is sometimes prone to fog and a low cloud ceiling. The Instrument Landing System has been upgraded to Category II, and together with a 305 m (1000 ft) extension of the main runway has significantly reduced the number of diversions. However during times of severe inclement weather the airport can suffer from delays or diversions to airports such as Shannon, Dublin or Kerry. Similarly, diversions from these airports occasionally land at Cork.

The length of the main runway dictates that the airport cannot handle fully laden large widebody aircraft. However, aircraft the size of the Boeing 747-400 are able to use the airport and the largest aircraft that can operate from Cork Airport with a full load for a long-haul flight is the Boeing 767-200.[citation needed] Large wide-bodied aircraft do visit Cork Airport on a regular basis and usually only operate on ad-hoc charter services for flights to various sporting occasions involving the Munster Rugby team.

Operator

The terminal building

From its opening in 1961 the airport was managed by the Department of Transport and Power (now the Department of Transport and the Marine). 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[6] and the Shannon Airport Authority.[7] These companies were charged with preparing a business plan in preparation for taking over the assets of their airports from the DAA.

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. A new Control Tower is presently being constructed to the West of the airport, on a site adjoining the fire training grounds. When this new tower is opened in May 2009, Cork Approach will be moved to Dublin in a centralisation effort.

Ground transport

Bus Éireann and SkyLink provide a regular service from the airport to the city centre which usually takes 25 minutes. The Bus Eireann service to Kinsale also calls at the airport.

The airport is also served by taxi. There is a taxi rank located outside the arrivals entrance.

Cork Airport, being in close proximity to the city centre by road (8 km),[2] has no railway station linking it to the rail network. 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 Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) national network.

Car hire is available in the arrivals hall of the terminal building, with several car rental firms located at the airport.

Passenger facilities

The new terminal at Cork Airport contains several shopping and eating facilities both before and after the security screening area, a bank with bureau de change service and an executive lounge. Internet access is available throughout the terminal.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled passenger airlines & destinations

  • Aer Arann (Belfast-City, Brest, Bristol, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, La Rochelle, Leeds/Bradford, Lorient, Nantes, Southampton)
  • Aer Lingus (Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin-Schönefeld, Birmingham, Faro, Geneva [begins 2 December], Jersey, London-Heathrow, Malaga, Manchester, Munich, Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino)
  • Air Southwest (Newquay [seasonal], Plymouth)
  • bmibaby (Birmingham, Manchester)
  • Jet2.com (Newcastle)
  • Ryanair (Carcassonne [begins 28 May], Dublin, East Midlands, Glasgow-Prestwick, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted)
  • SkyEurope (Bratislava)
  • Wizz Air (Gdańsk, Katowice, Warsaw [begins 26 June])

Charter airlines & destinations

(Details correct as per Summer 2008 Schedule)

Scheduled freight airlines

Handling agents

Aircraft ground handling agents include:

General aviation

Cork Airport has a long tradition of general aviation flying. Both fixed wing and rotary wing flight training providers operate at the airport.

References

  1. ^ Cork Airport, official website
  2. ^ a b EAD Basic
  3. ^ Template:WAD
  4. ^ Airport information for ORK at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  5. ^ Cork Airport - 2007 Annual Report
  6. ^ Cork Airport Authority
  7. ^ Shannon Airport Authority


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