AN IRISH airport have issued a major alert as snow and ice teams plan for the forecasted drop in temperatures.
Cork Airport is on high alert for the winter weather expected this week.
Cork Airport said they will ensure passengers have smooth flights this week[/caption]
As temperatures are set to drop in the coming days, Cork Airport has its snow and ice team fully prepared for any disruptions.
The airport’s snow and ice team is equipped with a range of specialised tools to keep surfaces clear, ensuring flights operate smoothly and safely.
This includes treating key areas like the terminal forecourt, car parks, footpaths, and runways – which will all be worked on around the clock by the asset care team.
Cork Airport Fire Service will also monitor critical areas like taxiways and runways by patrolling them frequently to ensure safe conditions for passengers.
As temperatures drop, the operations team has been in close communication with airlines flying in to the airport and ground handlers.
This will ensure they are ready to handle aircraft de-icing needs as snow is expected to hit the country this week.
Passenger safety is a major priority, and they are now being advised to take extra care when heading to the airport.
Managing Director at Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy, said the airport is committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for passengers, even in challenging weather conditions.
He said: “Airport activities change in the seasons and whereas in summer, our maintenance colleagues must focus on areas like grass management and campus improvements, over the winter, the focus turns to operational readiness for snow and ice events.
“We have a great maintenance team supported by a substantial fleet of specialist equipment and our maintenance colleagues, led by Eamon O’Donovan, Jonathan Murphy working alongside our airport engineer, Brian Culloty, will do their utmost to ensure everyone gets away and home safely as we enter the busy Christmas season.
“Cork Airport is Ireland’s fastest growing airport, and we will do our utmost to improve and maintain our standards of customer service to accompany that strong growth.”
With 2024 shaping up to be a record year, Cork Airport is set to welcome 3.1 million passengers, maintaining strong growth into the busy Christmas season.
This comes after Dublin Airport has issued a major Christmas warning to passengers ahead of the festive season.
Major Christmas warning
The airport is on track to surpass 32 million passengers in December 2024 – with parking spots set to fill up fast.
So far this year, Dublin Airport has already handled 28.7million passengers, with a five per cent increase compared to 2023.
Despite this growth, a passenger cap has become a major issue – with Dublin Airport needing to limit its capacity to comply with regulations.
In October, the airport welcomed a record 2.9 million passengers, making it the busiest October in the airport’s 84-year history.
October’s peak day saw 114,000 passengers, although a significant number of these were rebooked after Storm Ashley caused disruptions.
Passenger numbers are expected to exceed 32 million by December, with forecasts predicting a final count closer to 33 million for the year.
The airport is now working on plans to increase capacity, including a proposal to raise the cap to 40 million passengers and an operational plan to reach 36 million without new infrastructure.
There snow and ice team are preparing for the drop in temperatures this week[/caption]
