Airport World - Joe Bates
After using the traffic downturn to rebuild its main runway, Cork Airport’s managing director, Niall MacCarthy, feels that the Irish gateway is in a good position to bounce back better.
How important is your airport to the city and region you serve in terms of connectivity, jobs and its economic and social impact?
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cork Airport was the Republic of Ireland’s busiest and best connected regional international airport and the second busiest in the country after the capital city, Dublin. As well as operating over 50 direct routes to the UK and Europe, Cork Airport also provided daily long-haul connectivity through major hub airports such as London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris CDG.
We are a key part of the South of Ireland economy directly and indirectly supporting 12,180 jobs and contributing €904 million to the economy across the region in 2019. This was a combination of direct, indirect, and catalytic economic impact through aviation, inbound tourism, employment, and supply chain.
