Flybe’s new service to Cardiff takes off this Saturday from Cork Airport. The new year-round service with Europe's largest regional airline will initially operate each Saturday, increasing to twice weekly from September, with additional flights on Tuesdays.

Cork Airport is delighted to welcome Flybe as a new airline partner offering the Welsh capital as a fantastic city destination.

Cork Airport Managing Director, Niall MacCarthy welcomed the launch of the new route to Cardiff, saying it linked two great Celtic cities. “The new Cardiff service with Flybe should generate a significant boost to the local economy, providing a new destination for local business travellers and holidaymakers and also creating a new inbound tourism market.

“Cork Airport already supports and facilitates almost 11,000 jobs and this new route will help grow the positive impact that the airport has on the regional economy.  We have been working hard to provide our passengers with new routes to expand choice and connectivity and we’re delighted to add Cardiff to our list of direct destinations."

Flybe’s Regional Manager for Ireland, Andrea Hayes, said the airline was excited to be launching the new Cork-Cardiff service.  “We greatly look forward to offering this new route between Cork and Cardiff, the gateway to Wales, with an initial service on Saturdays that increases to twice a week from September. The new Cork service will help to open up a key tourism gateway and contribute to the local tourism economy of this beautiful part of Ireland.”

Ms Hayes added that Flybe would work closely with Cork Airport and other stakeholders in the region to grow traffic between the two cities.

Cardiff boasts an incredible selection of unique attractions, world-class entertainment and premium shopping all within walking distance of the compact city centre. Modern architecture sits alongside historic buildings and Cardiff Bay offers attractions for all ages.

Cardiff is also a great family destination, as youngsters can visit the Dr Who Experience and also check out many of the famous locations for the television series, which is filmed in the Welsh capital.

The launch of the new route is also perfectly timed for rugby fans in the region ahead of this autumn’s Rugby World Cup, with Ireland playing both Canada and France in Cardiff’s state-of-the-art Millennium Stadium.

“Cardiff Airport has become an important gateway to the city of Cardiff, and to Wales, following significant investment in recent years. Cardiff is a vibrant city, it is the UK's top ranked city for quality of life and boasts a serious passion for world-class culture and for sport”, Mr MacCarthy said.

Cork Airport is Ireland’s second largest airport, with more than 2 million passengers per year and direct summer services to 50 destinations in the UK and continental Europe.