Aer Lingus and Aer Arann Franchise Takes Flight From Cork
Monday 29th March: Cork business and tourism received a welcome boost yesterday as Aer Lingus Regional, the franchise agreement between Ireland’s regional airline, Aer Arann, and the national carrier, Aer Lingus, took to the skies from Cork Airport.
Under the franchise agreement which was announced on January 26th, Aer Lingus Regional will operate six routes from Cork including a new route from Cork to Glasgow that will operate six days per week.
The six routes to be operated under the franchise offer direct business connectivity between Cork and major UK regional centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Bristol as well as offering access and frequency aimed at boosting leisure travel including holidays and short city breaks.
Summer services see the return of highly popular Aer Arann services to La Rochelle and Jersey, this time operating under the Aer Lingus Regional franchise banner.
The new franchise operation signals a significant investment in Cork with Aer Arann permanently basing one of its new ATR-72-500 aircraft, freshly painted in Aer Lingus Regional livery, at the airport.
The aircraft base and the new routes underpin both airline and associated jobs in the aviation and tourism industry surrounding the airport. It is also a positive stimulus for business offering direct services and cutting travel time and costs.
Speaking as the first Aer Lingus Regional flight departed Stephen Kavanagh, Aer Lingus Chief Commercial Officer said; "The expanded route network will enable us to serve key UK regional destinations with improved frequency and schedule options, while providing connectivity with our transatlantic network."
Also welcoming the first departure, Aer Arann Chief Executive Paul Schütz said;
"With our franchise partner we have created a product that offers a customer-focussed schedule with increased frequency and regional connectivity. The additional flights on existing routes combined with new direct services linking regional centres in the UK with Cork offers a significant boost to both business and the tourism industry at a time when it is badly needed.
Our combined brand power and quality products make it an excellent service for passengers and we look forward to welcoming both new and existing Aer Arann and Aer Lingus customers on board our flights from today", he continued.
Welcoming the new Aer Lingus Regional services from Cork, Kevin Cullinane, Aviation Marketing Manager, Cork Airport, said:
"Aer Arann and Aer Lingus are not only augmenting their quality service offering from Cork Airport but are also offering our business and leisure customers improved schedule and frequency options on existing routes."
In addition to the Aer Lingus Regional routes Aer Arann will continue to operate from Cork to Dublin and Belfast.