Passengers at Cork Airport Opting for Sunny Spanish Getaways Over Easter Weekend
Over 65,000 passengers are expected to travel through Cork Airport over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, with Good Friday predicted to be the busiest day for arrivals and departures. Not only are large numbers of Irish travelers jetting off for some Springtime sunshine or city breaks abroad, but the airport is also preparing for a significant number of inbound visitors. The UK, in particular, is sending a high volume of travelers to Cork, as both Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays there.
Thankfully, the ongoing staff strikes at numerous Spanish airports, which began yesterday, are not expected to cause any major problems for passengers flying through Cork over the coming days. A spokesperson for Cork Airport confirmed that the walkouts by Groundforce and Menzies staff, who work at check-in, ramp, and baggage services at 12 of Spain’s busiest airports, including Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, and Málaga, will not significantly impact travelers at Cork Airport.
The industrial action, which is affecting thousands of staff, has resulted in partial stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in three time slots: 05:00-07:00, 11:00-17:00, and 22:00-00:00. According to a statement from AENA Airports, “Indefinite strike action by Groundforce staff called from 30 March.
Despite the potential for delays and disruption, Cork Airport is still urging holidaymakers to arrive early for their flights during this busy period, especially while construction works are ongoing at the airport. Travelers are advised to arrive at least 90 minutes before their flight to ensure a smooth check-in and security process. The airport is currently undergoing a €200 million Capital Development program to update and expand facilities, with plans to reach a passenger capacity of 5 million per year by December 2026.
For holidaymakers departing from Cork Airport, popular destinations this Easter include Alicante, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Valencia, Malaga, Faro, Paris, Barcelona, and Seville. The airport’s 2026 Summer Schedule began last weekend and will run until the end of October, with key seasonal services back in operation, including flights to Alghero, Bilbao, Girona, Milan Bergamo, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, and Reus. Major airline partners Lufthansa, SWISS International Air Lines, and SunExpress have also returned, reinstating their successful services to Frankfurt, Zurich, and Izmir.
The increased frequency of flights to Frankfurt also offers expanded long-haul connectivity for the wider South of Ireland. Through Lufthansa’s global hub, passengers now have access to an even broader network of destinations worldwide, complementing existing hub links via London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Zurich.
Niall