Cork Airport warmly welcomed two new route announcements by CityJet as well as increased services to top city and sun destinations by Aer Lingus for Summer 2016.

CityJet announced today that it is launching two new routes to La Rochelle and Nantes in France. The airline will operate a twice weekly service to La Rochelle on Tuesday and Saturday, while Cork – Nantes will be a weekly service each Sunday from June 18, 2016.

Other good news at Cork Airport was Aer Lingus’ launch of its summer schedule, which includes additional capacity on its Paris, Barcelona, Palma and Faro services from Munster’s favourite airport.

The announcements by both airlines means over 2,300 additional seats each week from Cork Airport for the summer months to seven destinations that are exceptionally popular with Irish tourists.

Cork Airport’s Managing Director Niall MacCarthy said that the announcements by CityJet and Aer Lingus were fantastic news for passengers in Cork and Munster. “Today’s news is further evidence that the fortunes have really turned at Cork Airport as we head into next year with solid growth in passenger numbers.

“It is also great for people from the region as the choice from Cork Airport is unrivalled by any other airport in the region with over 50 destinations to choice from next summer.

“The two new routes to La Rochelle and Nantes comes on the back of CityJet’s commencement of its London City route last week as well as other recent airline announcements including the news of our first transatlantic service to Boston with Norwegian Airlines in 2016 and New York the following year, Flybe’s new route to Cardiff, which took off in May and Aer Lingus’ new Dusseldorf service, which will commence in May 2016,” he said.

Aer Lingus had also already announced that it is to double its service to Tenerife for the winter season, which starts at the end of this month.

Mr MacCarthy added: “These are very exciting times for Cork Airport and we are delighted to be in a position to announce a series of new routes and additional options for some summer favourites.

“We are in a very good position to grow over the coming months and years but the important thing now is for passengers from Cork and surrounding counties to support the new routes. Only with this support will we be able to continue to offer the best connectivity of any airport outside of Dublin.”