CityJet, the Irish European regional airline, today announced that it is to fly 18 times weekly between Cork Airport and London City Airport, commencing on October 1st.
The airline said it will fly three times daily on weekdays with its first flight from Cork to London City Airport (LCY) departing at 07.40am. It will also offer one flight on Saturdays and two on Sundays from Cork.
The airline, which has its headquarters in Swords, Co. Dublin, said it saw significant potential in Cork and the greater Munster region for flights directly into the heart of the city of London.
Executive Chairman Pat Byrne said: “We are very excited about this expansion of our route network. We believe the Cork to London City route has significant potential and indications are, as we launch a major marketing and promotional drive, that there are many travellers, both business and leisure, that want to enjoy the fast access and hassle-free experience that London City Airport offers.”
Mr Byrne said: “Our experience in operating into and out of London City Airport is that any passengers who try it remain on the route. It is the only airport actually in London and offers easy access to London’s financial district and the West End and other great visitor landmarks. Customers can be on the Docklands Light Rail literally minutes after disembarking the aircraft, with quick access to the Docklands area, ExCel Centre, Central London and the Underground.”
“We are really looking forward to introducing ourselves to Cork and providing customers with a convenient and hassle-free service, with complimentary on-board catering and a generous 23kg free check-in baggage allowance”.
CityJet has seen significant growth in its traffic in recent months as it has embarked on a major marketing drive and offers a wide range of fares to suit both business and leisure customers. Last month, CityJet announced a 50% increase in passenger numbers in May year on year on its Dublin to London City route.
Mr Byrne said that Cork boasted some of the major multinationals in the State and was a location of choice for pharma, healthcare, ICT and biotechnology companies.
“Cork and its economy continues to thrive and grow. We want to partner that growth by delivering flights into the heart of London’s financial district and provide our unrivalled service for business and leisure travellers alike,” Mr Byrne added
Welcoming CityJet’s announcement, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport, said: “We’re delighted that CityJet has included a service between Cork Airport and London City to its schedule. It’s fantastic news for both business and leisure travellers from across the Munster region with easy access right into the heart of the city of London. Departure times and the convenience of both airports will make the service very attractive to potential passengers both here and in the UK. London has always been a popular destination and we believe that the new CityJet service will thrive over the coming months.
“We’re looking forward to working with CityJet on its new route and building on this announcement in the future,” he added.