Cork Airport - ORK



You can see from this picture that this is not a big airport - and what you see here is the entire passenger terminal. It's about half the size of Newcastle or Leeds Bradford, for example. It has just 8 gates, though rarely more than 2 are in use at any one time.



Services to and from LHR:


There are generally 4 services a day - spread around the day. A fifth service in the morning runs at peak times. The service is operated by A320s, fairly similar to BA configuration, but there's an extra row on Aer Lingus by not having the front cupboard.

Back to back potential:
Cork is a good place to consider a back to back, with one caveat. The aircraft are effectively dedicated to the ORK service, with the late service LHR-ORK night-stopping in Cork for the early morning ORK-LHR. However note that the afternoon service, EI722 ORK-LHR doesn't always run off the LHR-ORK service EI715. Usually that connection would be fine, but it is not protected by the aircrafts' movements. The more useful service is the first service LHR-ORK, EI711, which runs back to LHR on the same aircraft as EI712.

Back to back process and timings
I timed a potential back to back, admittedly over 2 trips but I believe these timings are realistic. Total time from doors open at gate 4 to reaching the same gate airside again was 8 minutes 58 seconds. I was in row 4, getting off wasn't quick due to some mobility issues with other passengers, I walked briskly throughout but didn't run. There was a short queue at security and I exchanged some rugby chitchat with the security guard. So there's probably scope to get another minute off that time. Gate to landside was 3 minutes 45 seconds, landside to security 45 seconds, security took 3 minutes, duty free to gate 1 minute 28 seconds.



The process is - doors open - airbridge - passports (as minimalistic as it could possibly be) - baggage reclaim - landside. Turn right towards main check-in, walk 50 metres, then up the escalator - the only one in the airport - to first floor security - duty free shop meander - gate. The entire distance I measured at 190 metres. Boarding at Cork starts 30 to 25 minutes before departure. It's not unusual to leave 10 minutes early. If you are at the front of the aircraft, you'll almost certainly get back to the gate before the final passengers have walked off. The first photo below shows where you exit from arrivals, the second photo shows the escalator to security, and if you cross reference both photos you will see the join.





Overnight potential:
For those wanting to take a more gradual pace, then an overnight stay in Cork is definitely worthy of consideration, and probably inevitable if you are taking checked luggage. Cork is easier to get around, the distance from the airport is short and the hotels are cost effective compared to Dublin. If you haven't been to Cork this is one way to turn the logistical complexities of an ex-Ireland fare into an added bonus to your travel.

Lounge access for BAEC members:



Full details in the Aer Lingus forum, but the Jack Lynch lounge is by gate 8, just past and around the corner from gate 4 or 6, the usual gates for the LHR service - see map above. It's a very small lounge, it can only seat about 30 people and the refreshment provision is fairly modest. Breakfast pastries, biscuits, a reasonably impressive cheese board, coffee machine, Barry's tea (their HQ is 2 miles from the airport), Guinness in cans, lager and some lower cost wine mini bottles. See post number 6 for lounge access details for BAEC members, but in summary BAEC Silver and above gets access on both BA and EI flights to London, but have no guesting rights. Lounge access can be purchased and they accept Priority Pass.

Hotel options:
There are two hotels within walking distance of the airport. The nearest, 150 metres from the airport, is the Cork Airport hotel, which used to be the Park Inn Radisson. As you come out of the airport you will notice a grass slope in front, the hotel is on top of this slope on the right side. The other hotel, which is 300 metres away is the Cork International Hotel as the crow flies on the left side, but the layout of carparks makes it a longer walk. They have a half hourly shuttle as an alternative to the 5 minute walk. I haven't stayed at either hotel, preferring the Jury's Inn in central Cork, which I can recommend as a mid-priced hotel.

Travel to central Cork:
The impressive city of Cork is only 5 miles from the airport. There is a ready supply of taxis from the front door that will take you to central Cork for around 20€ and takes around 10-15 minutes. There is the 226 bus service that runs from the airport front door every 30-60 minutes (the information desk in the airport will have timetable details) to the Parnell Place bus station close to the main hotels. It cost 5.60€ and takes up to 30 minutes. It's a coach service and is suitable for those with luggage.

What to see in Cork
This is beyond the scope of this guide but to pick a few highlights for further research: The English Market (where the Queen made a notable visit), St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Elizabeth Fort, the shopping streets of St Patrick's Street, Merchant Quay and Opera Lane. Cork is also notable for its varied food and drinking opportunities.

Airport services:
ATM machines, WH Smith, Spar mini mart (open extended hours), several food and drink options both landside and airside. The airport has a free wifi service throughout.

Other links from Cork
- Aer Lingus Regional / Stobart - Birmingham (year round), Bristol (year round), Southampton (from March 2016), Leeds-Bradford (from March 2016), Manchester (year round), Newcastle (year round), Glasgow (year round), Edinburgh (year round). These are not codeshared with BA, but can earn a low number of Avios when bought via Aer Lingus.
- Aer Lingus mainline flights to AMS, CDG, GVA, MUC, ACE, AGP, TFS. These are also not codeshared with BA at the moment, but it's possible this will change at some point. In the mean time they do earn a limited number of Avios, but no TPs, under Aer Lingus prime bookings.
- Ryanair, Cityjet to STN, LCY, LPL.

Future developments
As mentioned in the introduction, Norwegian have announced they will be running their first venture into longhaul services from Ireland out of Cork, with a service to Boston starting in May 2016, with plans to add JFK in 2017. They will also run a BCN-ORK service from May 2016. In the past, BA haven't taken kindly to competition from NO across the Atlantic, and have been willing to sell World Traveller seats at low prices to compete with them. So watch this space.

Miscellaneous

• LHR-ORK and back is fairly exposed in terms of winds and the jetstream coming off the Atlantic, so it's not unusual for the "fasten seatbelts" sign to be on for the entire journey. Landings can be heavy too.
• The typical route to ORK will take you over Bristol, Swansea, over Pembrokeshire, with views on both sides of the aircraft, perhaps slightly better on the starboard (right) side. In the ORK - LHR direction, you probably want to be on the port (left) side for potential views of Cork and South Wales.
• BA used to run services to Cork from LGW, in the form of a franchise arrangement with CityFlyer Express, subsidiary Brymon Airways, and under BA Connect. BA services stopped in 2006 when BA Connect was folded into Flybe.
• The airport opened in 1957, but it wasn't until 1964 that a jet engine aircraft landed there, and this was the BOAC Comet G-APDI, a charter flight. BEA also ran services to Cork. This photo of the event comes with the kind permission of Gabriel Desmond of Cork, who has other photos of BA / BEA / BOAC in Ireland here on airliners.net. Note the hay bales!

Website links:
Cork Airport
Cork tourism - operated by Cork City Council.
English Market