Expansion of Parking Facilities at Cork Airport
Cork Airport has received planning permission from Cork City Council to build 669 new long-term car parking spaces as part of its extensive development plan. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) submitted the application in May this year, and it has now been approved with several conditions. The approval includes the creation of a new internal road layout, footpaths, gated pedestrian access, and the parking spaces themselves, along with other associated site works. Out of the 669 spaces, 32 will be designated for individuals with reduced mobility.
The new parking spaces will be located south of the existing Holiday Blue Long-Term Car Park at Cork Airport. This addition is expected to significantly enhance the airport’s current parking capacity, which is often fully booked well in advance during peak holiday seasons.
Major Development Plan Underway
This parking expansion is just one part of Cork Airport’s impressive €200 million capital development plan, which will involve a series of major upgrades over the next eight years. The plan was launched by the Taoiseach in May and includes the construction of a new mezzanine floor, an expanded security screening area, a larger duty-free shop, and an expanded executive lounge. Early estimates suggest that the duty-free area will grow by a third of its current size.
Work on the initial stages of the plan is set to begin this summer, with all projects expected to be completed within eight years. However, some components are anticipated to be finished much sooner.
New Mezzanine Floor and Future Projects
Cork Airport’s managing director, Niall MacCarthy, confirmed that hoarding for the mezzanine floor, which will be constructed above the existing arrivals area, will be installed by the end of August. If everything proceeds smoothly, the floor is expected to be open to the public by the end of next year.
The recently approved parking plan does not even account for half of the spaces that Cork Airport intends to build in the coming years. Current plans estimate that 1,700 new long-term parking spaces will be added by the time the project concludes. In addition, a 1.7 Mw solar farm will be constructed over the current Holiday Blue car park. This initiative will help Cork Airport meet its sustainability goals. The electricity generated by the solar farm is enough to meet approximately one-fifth of the airport’s energy needs, and the project is expected to be completed by March of next year.
Future Flights and Airline Partnerships
At the launch of the development plan, Mr. MacCarthy confirmed that new flights are definitely in the works for Cork Airport as part of the massive expansion. However, he noted that it is currently “impossible” to determine what new routes might be offered at this early stage. Despite this, Mr. MacCarthy emphasized that Aer Lingus and Ryanair will continue to play a significant role at Cork Airport as the expansion progresses.
