Cork Airport has welcomed CityJet’s announcement that it will operate a new Cork-London City Airport service 18 times per week.

The new CityJet service will operate three times per day from Monday to Friday, with one return flight on Saturdays and two flights on Sundays. The new service will commence on October 1, 2015 with tickets going on sale immediately.

“We’re delighted to welcome CityJet to Cork Airport,” said Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy.  “The announcement of CityJet’s new route to London City Airport is great news for business and leisure passengers alike.

“With 18 flights per week, this new service provides regular, convenient access right to the heart of the English capital from anywhere in Munster and adds to competition and choice for passengers in a key market,” he added.

“Over eight hundred thousand passengers from the region already travel on our London services each year, making it the most popular destination from Cork Airport, and with the new CityJet service we expect this to increase further in the months ahead.

“We will also work with our local tourism partners to promote the Munster region to inbound passengers from London and believe that there is great potential for the inbound tourism product particularly inbound golf, conference and similar business,” Mr MacCarthy said.

CityJet Executive Chairman Pat Byrne said the airline was very excited to be expanding to Cork. “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.”

CityJet, 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.

“Our experience in operating into and out of London City Airport is that any passengers who try it remain on the route,” Mr Byrne said. “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.”

The new CityJet service further expands on Cork Airport’s route network, which is the biggest of any airport outside of Dublin and will add 3,420 seats available each week from the airport. Cork Airport has an extensive short-haul network with 50 routes to destinations in Britain and throughout Continental Europe.

“I must acknowledge the co-operation and support from key stakeholders in securing this new CityJet route for Cork Airport,” Mr MacCarthy said. “We’re looking forward to working with CityJet on its new service from Cork and building on this announcement to potentially add further destinations in the near future.”