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A KLM Cityhopper jet.
HOPES that a leading airline would consider a new route from Kerry to Amsterdam seem to be dashed after the airline announced a new daily service from Cork starting next year.
Last month, Mayor of Tralee, Jim Finucane, asked Kerry County Council to contact KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to arrange a meeting with a view to discussing setting up a service from Kerry Airport.
Mayor Finucane said such a route would be a game changer for businesses in Kerry because Schipol Airport is a world hub. Cllr Jackie Healy Rae expressed a similar hope that progress would be made on establishing a route from Kerry.
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However, it seems highly unlikely now after Cork Airport welcomed the announcement this morning that KLM will launch a new daily service between Cork Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from March 30, 2020.
The new Cork – Amsterdam route will be operated by KLM subsidiary, KLM Cityhopper using Embraer 175 and Embraer 190 aircraft, depending on the day of the week.
Cork Airport hailed the launch of the new route as a significant boost for inbound and outbound tourism for Cork and the greater Munster region, offering connectivity to KLM’s extensive network of 170 destinations worldwide.
Welcoming the new route, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “These new flights will connect directly into the KLM network in Amsterdam offering great prices and great long haul options direct from Cork Airport. We expect tourism and the business community throughout the South of Ireland will see the benefits of this new service operated by crisp blue Embraer KLM aircraft from next summer.”
This new KLM route is the latest in the Air France-KLM group’s expansion in Munster. Having first launched the Cork Airport – Paris Charles de Gaulle route in May 2018, Air France announced last month that they will operate twice daily for summer 2020.
