As airlines around the world gear up for another busy period of Christmas travel, they also have one eye on the future. Aer Lingus is one such carrier, with the Irish national airline having recently revealed that it will be operating two new seasonal routes from Cork (ORK) in the south of the Republic of Ireland next summer. These will see leisure travel opportunities grow for the region’s passengers.
Bound for Bilbao
These new corridors will commence operations in April and May, with the first to do so serving Bilbao Airport (BIO) in northern Spain. A statement released yesterday by 
Aer Lingus
in conjunction with the launches of these routes confirmed that these flights will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with the inaugural departure on April 16th coming just in time for Easter.
Photo: Aer Lingus
Passengers traveling on the carrier’s new route to the Basque city, which Aer Lingus notes is “recognized for its inimitable art scene and cuisine,” will be able to do so at relatively low prices. Indeed, fares will start at €59.99 ($63.04), and, with no other airline flying from Cork to Bilbao, Aer Lingus’ new route will surely be a tempting prospect for southern Irish leisure travelers. Cork Airport’s Tara Finn stated:
“[The] announcement of two new Aer Lingus services is superb news and is warmly welcomed. With a new direct connection to Bilbao, located in the heart of the Basque region, customers from across the South of Ireland can enjoy the famous culture, gastronomy and scenery that Northern Spain has to offer. It will also provide very convenient access to the Camino de Santiago.”
Serving southwestern France
Just shy of a month after Aer Lingus’ first flight on its new route to Bilbao, the Irish flag carrier will be launching a second summer seasonal route from Cork Airport. The destination in question is Bordeaux Mérignac Airport (BOD) in the southwest of France, with flights commencing on May 15th. These will run to September 13th next year, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Photo: David Velupillai | Airbus
With fares starting once again at €59.99, and Aer Lingus also having a monopoly on this corridor, the new route to the wine capital of France will be well received by passengers from the region in search of refined cultural breaks. Reid Moody, who serves as the Chief Strategy & Planning Officer at Aer Lingus, welcomed the launch of both this route and the corridor from Cork to Bilbao, stating that:
“These new routes from Cork provide our customers with more opportunities to explore European culture. Bilbao and Bordeaux are both rich in history and heritage, and we know our customers will enjoy new direct connections to discover these destinations. These routes are fantastic additions to Aer Lingus’ network, and we look forward to welcoming customers flying from Cork onboard for an unforgettable travel experience.”
Further summer additions elsewhere in the network
While Bilbao and Bordeaux are exciting additions to Aer Lingus’ route network in Cork, they are far from its only seasonal services at the facility. Indeed, the Irish flag carrier also flies to the likes of Dubrovnik, Faro, and Palma de Mallorca over the summer, as well as serving the Spanish leisure destinations of Lanzarote, Málaga, and Tenerife South on a year-round basis. Frequencies on the island routes are:
- César Manrique Lanzarote Airport (ACE) – Up to four times a week all year round.
- Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) – Five times a week from May 1st.
- Tenerife South Reina Sofía Airport (TFS) – Up to three times a week all year round.
Photo: frank333 | Shutterstock
Elsewhere in its considerable European route network, Aer Lingus has also boosted its summer leisure schedules on certain routes out of its main hub at Dublin Airport
(DUB). Specifically, the Irish flag carrier has switched its Malta route to a year-round service, as well as extending its winter sun routes to Marrakesh and Seville through to May next year. These will then resume in October of 2025.
