Cork's Polish community launch campaign as Ryanair ends Gdansk and Poznan routes
For the estimated 25,000 Poles living in Cork city and county, the loss of a direct route between Cork Airport and Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport - the third biggest in Poland - is a major blow. Ryanair are also ending the Poznan route from Cork, as CorkBeo revealed in January.Ryanair has decided to end the routes to Poland and also to Rome from Cork at the end of March, disappointing the large Polish community - in Cork city but also in towns like Millstreet where they make up 15% of the population.However, the Polish community in Cork is well organised and well connected and now they are starting a campaign to persude either Ryanair to reconsider the decision - or let another airline know that these routes can be profitable and busy, given the strong connections between Munster and Poland.Groups like the PolskaEire Slavic Festival Cork and other Polish communition organisations have started a petition to persuade Ryanair to reconsider the decision. And it's not just Poles backing the campaign, as over 25 years of direct flights between Cork and Poland have led to a lot of Munster people visiting the Eastern European country.There are some hopes that other budget airlines - such as WizzAir - could come in to take over the routes. The campaign organisers say: 'County Cork is home to one of the largest Polish communities in Ireland. For many Poles residing in Cork, Gdansk serves as the primary gateway to Northern Poland. The suspension of Ryanair's direct flight route between Cork and Gdansk has had a profound impact on this vibrant community. Not only has it made travel more cumbersome and expensive, but it has also hindered family connections, professional opportunities, and cultural exchanges that are vital to maintaining our diverse society.""With the cancellation of the direct route, individuals now face longer and often more costly journeys with layovers that can sometimes stretch across several hours. This imposes unnecessary stress and financial burdens on families and individuals who require regular connectivity between Cork and Gdansk. Furthermore, it affects businesses that rely on seamless travel for their operations between these two regions. Statistics show that Ireland is home to over 120,000 Poles, and County Cork itself hosts one of the highest concentrations. The demand for efficient and affordable travel options between Cork and Gdansk is evident, and the lack of direct flights severely limits the freedom of this community to stay connected with their roots, families, and necessary economic activities. Ryanair has been a trusted and extensively used airline for travel between Cork and Gdansk, known for providing affordable air travel. Reinstituting direct flights between these two cities would not only serve the needs of the Polish community but would also benefit the broader population of Cork who travel for tourism, work, and education."Flights to Poznań will end on 26th March, and the last flights to Gdańsk and Rome will run on 28th March. The loss of three destinations at Munster's regional airport comes as a likely knock-on effect from Ryanair's decision to shift one of the company's four aircraft in Cork to Shannon for the winter season. A spokesperson for the Budget Airline said the move aimed to make use of "lower-cost options elsewhere across the network." Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has expressed hopes of bringing a fourth aircraft back to Cork this summer however.Want to see more stories from CorkBeo? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add us as a preferred source, simply click here.
