Today brings further positive news at Cork Airport as Iberia Express has announced it is to extend its Cork – Madrid service for Summer 2017. The service to the Spanish capital will take off a fortnight earlier next year, extending the service initially launched for Summer 2016. This announcement follows recent separate new route launches at Cork Airport with new services to Reykjavik with WOW air and last week’s news that Swiss is to commence a service to Zurich.
 
The Cork – Madrid service will operate twice weekly, every Saturday and Wednesday and is building on its success in 2016. Launching two weeks earlier than last year, Iberia Express will commence its service from June 3 and it will continue right through the summer months until September – giving more choice to passengers across the South if Ireland for breaks in mainland Spain.
 
Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “The popularity of the Cork - Madrid route last year exceeded expectations particularly for inbound Spanish visitor numbers. We welcome this increase inflights with Iberia Express for this coming summer season."

“Madrid as the Spanish capital has a significant amount to offer for weekend breaks from the South of Ireland. There is something for all travellers in Madrid as the cultural hub of Spain with excellent nightlife and restaurants, the home of Real Madrid football and the gateway to central Spain. Spain is also an important market for inbound tourism, with over 300,000 Spaniards visiting these shores each year. The extension of the service for 2017 will help increase numbers further into the region boasting the local economy”.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “The extension of this Iberia Express flight from Madrid to Cork is more good news for Irish tourism in 2017, expanding travel options for Spanish holidaymakers wishing to visit Cork and the South of Ireland. We will continue to work closely with Iberia Express and Cork Airport to maximise the promotion of the service. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in visitor numbers.

“Spain is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and 2016 looks set to be another record year for Spanish visitors, with the latest CSO figures showing an increase of +12.4% for January to September. We are determined to ensure that growth continues. We have a busy promotional campaign under way right now – aimed at boosting late-season travel to Ireland from Spain and to position us well for 2017.”
 
Passengers availing of the Cork bi-weekly service to the Spanish capital will be able to fly via Madrid to many of Iberia Group’s destinations in Spain and as far as Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Sao Paulo in Latin America. Low cost tickets are on sale now on www.iberiaexpress.com.
 
The airline will operate an Airbus A320 aircraft on the route, with 180 seats across business and coach.