Cork Airport has defended plans to renovate its runway.

Responding to Ryanair’s announcement that it will not reopen its Cork base until winter 2021 because of the scheduled works this autumn, Cork Airport said that, with passengers numbers currently down 99%, it “makes prudent business sense to fast-track major capital investment projects now, while the airport is extremely quiet.”

Earlier today, Ryanair described the renovations to the 2.1km runway as a “crazy plan” that would prevent the low-cost airline from taking off from Cork early in the morning and landing late at night.

In response, management at Cork Airport said it has been engaged with all its major stakeholders, including Ryanair, in relation to the runway reconstruction and remediation project since last autumn.

“The majority of our airline customers are strongly in favour of the runway work being done this year.” said a spokesperson.

“This runway reconstruction project is vital for the future of the airport and our aim is to complete with the least possible disruption and at the lowest cost. The reconstruction of the main runway which, when completed later this year, will be a key strategic asset for the South of Ireland for the next 20 years.

Incentive schemes

Cork Airport management also said a generous incentive scheme will ensure that charges in Cork are cheaper than in Dublin:

“Cork Airport has been talking to airlines, including Ryanair, in relation to the types of incentive schemes we will offer to enable us to work together to build back our respective businesses.” a spokesperson said.

“We will be tabling a generous incentive scheme, which will once again make charges at Cork Airport cheaper than those at Dublin Airport, to Ryanair and to other customers in the coming days. Charges at Cork Airport have not increased in more than 14 years.”