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RYANAIR CEO MICHAEL O’Leary has said he does not expect to see a return of flights between Dublin and Cork.
However, he does not consider short-haul internal flights in Ireland to be unacceptable in the context of the climate crisis, despite the aviation industry’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
The airline boss also criticised a decision by France to ban short flights that can be replaced by train journeys under 2.5 hours, claiming that exceptions to the ban for connecting flights would mean that “not a single flight” would be cancelled.
The aviation industry is a major polluter and producer of harmful greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat inside the atmosphere, causing average global temperatures to rise.
Cutting short-haul flights that can be taken using other forms of transport has been the focus of some calls to help reduce the sector’s heavy burden on the environment.
However, chief executive of the Dublin airport authority (daa) Kenny Jacobs told the Irish Examiner yesterday that he expects flights to return between Dublin and Cork, a route that was flown in the past by Ryanair and Aer Lingus Regional.
Responding to a question from The Journal at a press conference in Brussels today, O’Leary said: “I don’t think Cork-Dublin flights will return.”
“The motorway journeys are now less than two hours, the train services are less than two hours,” he said.
According to Irish Rail timetables, the direct train journey between Dublin Heuston and Cork Kent stations usually takes around two hours and 37 minutes.
“We were the main airline operating Cork-Dublin flights. We had three flights a day with 97% load factor. Once they finished the motorway, the load factor went from 97% to 23%,” O’Leary said.
Asked whether he believes short-haul flights are acceptable in Ireland from a climate perspective, he said: “I do, because they’re much less efficient but Ireland is a very small island and there’s very few domestic flights.”
“We operate one domestic from Kerry to Dublin where the road journey is five hours. That’s now taking place on a green, clean aircraft, so, I think that’s acceptable, but in reality if you have a small country like Ireland with a very important good motorway network, the market determines that there’s no market for short-haul flights.”
Climate change has already caused “substantial damages” and an increasing level of “irreversible losses” to ecosystems, according to UN scientists.
The world is currently around 1.1 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times and is experiencing impacts such as heatwaves, droughts and melting ice sheets.
In 2015, countries committed under the Paris Agreement to try to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and not to allow it to surpass 2 degrees.
Global surface temperatures are expected to exceed 1.5 and 2 degrees unless humanity makes “deep reductions” in emissions.
O’Leary was speaking at a press conference in Brussels after the airline sent a petition to the European Commission calling for ‘overflights’ – that is, a flight travelling over a particular country but not departing from or arriving in it – to be facilitated even during air traffic control srikes.
The petition, which received 1.1 million signatures, according to the airline, called on the Commission to “respect the strike rights of ATC unions but protect 100% of overflights during national ATC strikes”.
If air traffic control strikes require flight cancellations, these should be managed to affect domestic or short-haul flights to or from the affected country, rather than flights flying over it, the petition demands.
Ryanair is requesting that the Commission enforces “binding arbitration” for ATC disputes before strike action, require a 21-day notice of strike action, and require a 72-hour notice of employee participation in strikes.
The French government recently announced that short flights which could be replaced by train journeys under 2.5 hours would no longer be permitted within the country – with certain conditions, such as the availability of trains early enough in the morning and late enough in the evening to travel from one location to another and back in a day.
The measure was proposed by a citizens’ assembly on climate in France in 2019, which originally called for a ban on flights where trains journeys of under four hours were possible.
O’Leary labelled the decision a “complete red herring”, suggesting that “not one flight will be cancelled or banned as a result that measure because it has a huge big asterisks exemption which is unless you’re flying on a connecting flight through Charles de Gaulle”.
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Thoughts and prayers with that young girl that was fatally assaulted in Welford last night/ horrific story
@Frank Mc Carthy
the Irish times that it was a woman.
Either way, terrible news.
@Frank Mc Carthy: you where so excited to post you got the age and place wronh
@Niall Lappin: that’s a pretty disgusting comment even for the Journal. RTÉ report an 8 year old girl had died.
@Niall Lappin: even a modecum of respect??? An 8 Yr old girl in Welford has tragically & violently lost her life
@Frank Mc Carthy: WEXFORD…..apologies….R.I.P
@Niall Lappin: wow, that’s fairly sick & vile
@Niall Lappin: hope you’re proud of yourself…knobrot
@Frank Mc Carthy: new Ross,a truly terrible thing to happen
@Niall Lappin: R.I.P. Malikika , her young life extinguished protecting her mother. Rest easy now child
I posted this elsewhere but maybe more relevant here (or not LOL)!
As a good deal of people seemed disappointed by the last government as constructed, could there be a government of national unity?
Or, fall into the same format as last time and ruin the chances of the minority party in subsequent future elections?
Alternatively, a government excluding FFG, comprised of the elected smaller party and individuals? Obviously the latter ‘could’ be unstable due to differences but it could also change the tide of politics in Ireland. Especially, if they managed to look after the homeless and build houses through direct labour and not being ripped off by building companies (who are famous for building bicycle sheds).
@Con Cussed: arithmetic not your strongest subject?
@Lesidees: LOL, there’s 174 seats, FFG combined not expected to have 88 seats. So assuming they get 80+ (or slights over but don’t make the magical 88, then there are at least 88 seats available to the opposition. Do the maths ;0)
@Con Cussed: Doesn’t matter, we’re incapable of building anything functional.
@Con Cussed: the left can not agree on anything and u would need all right leaning independents so never going to happen.
The left are smart u couldn’t go in with SF as they plan this far has Ben to cannibalise the left parties such as labour and doc dems
@Thesaltyurchin: @john purcell: Can’t disagree with anything you’re saying. However, if these guys want to see something different there will have to be give and take, otherwise FFG will be back in power with some minnow. FF & FG have never fixed the big issues of homelessness and housing, so maybe a group thrown together might have a better chance, can they do worse?
@Con Cussed: you laughed at someone to do the math, now I’m asking you to do the logic… as you’ve alluded to within your original post, the formation would likely be unstable, almost definitely too unstable. FFG look likely to get within 2 seats if 88, all they need is 2 indos. An opposition would have to get every single independent on board. Even if possible the structure would likely collapse within weeks if not days of being formed. I’m not against them trying it, but seems destined to end in failure.
@TheGood Feign: The odds are completely stacked against such an outcome as you rightly state. It would take all of the opposition to FFG to conclude an agreement. Some of those elected know they’ll never get in with FFG, so they might be open to it. Then the question would be how long might it last?
@Con Cussed: I suggested this a week ago, we have a National crisis in Homeless & Housing & now Public Services. It won’t be solved by Parties left, right or centre as they all try to fit in their ideologies, what’s needed is consensus on a National scale to solve a National crisis. I felt after the crash last time out, we should have had a National Govt as at that stage we lost our Sovereignty. I believe the onus & pressure on this next Govt is huge, failure to deliver on bread & butter issues from Cost of Living, Insurance, Housing, Health, Homelessness & Immigration, will see the people turn on all political classes as people see no hope. In mentioning Immigration, I am not anti Immigration, but we need to apply the rules, we cannot realistically help all those coming.
@Con Cussed: to get to 88 would mean all the independents, aontú, II, PBP, Labour, SD, Green, and SF agreeing on something….
@Con Cussed: labour will go in with fffg,they say no now but trust me that will change once they get a few ministers
@sean weir: the issue is SF are not a left wing party. Labour and SD are very left of center and their climate and immigration views are completely diff.
While most on here don’t want to see a FF/FG gov the reason is that the left should have formed a block prior to the election so that ppl could vote for them.
SF are looking for the left vote and are trying to destroy labour and the sock dems. They can’t go after the middle class FF/FG vote as it will destroy their base.
@Con Cussed: Dream on most outdoors and opposition wouldn’t agree to split €5
@TheGood Feign: Hell would freeze over before Social Democrats or Labour would ever dream forming a government with Independent Ireland or Aontú & vice versa. FFG have it unfortunately.
@SV3tN8M4: Indeed it would mean the parties putting the people first. It would be stronger than any other type of coalition as it would be bigger and as such could manage the minor entities pulling the plug, who might be the eventual loser in a subsequent election. The issue will always be the breakdown of government ministerial posts and sub-functions of government. It would take balls by those elected to form. All of the points raised need addressing but those who have been in power in the past haven’t addressed them, will they in the future?
The coalition with just need around five independents, Bacik and Holly can do on.
@Dan Murphy: woke utd! To replace woke greens
@Basildon Joe: WOKE WOKE WOKE. Jesus change the boring mantra Adolf. The world has changed, live with it
it was fine to mention immigration topic before elections?
Open the comments at wexford news
@sakk sa: comments are always closed on crime stories
Can we get a demographic break down on those who didn’t vote? Working/not working would be a start
@Ben dover: It will be responsibly obvious from returns based on towns/neighbourhoods. I would also suggest that those in lower social demographic groups voted far less.
@Ben dover: exactly
If there was a party proposing a 50 % reduction in Job Seekers benefit then you can bet the electorate would be huge .
All out to vote against that “” Draconian “” proposal
@james rowan: No representation without taxation!
11 seats to be filled then it’s as you were lads,same rules apply.
The two Healy Raes, Michael Lowry and Verona Murphy. There’s 4 guaranteed to prop up a coalition. We’ll know fairly soon how many FF and FG need.
After the Green wipeout, SD and Labour don’t need to be told twice to steer clear of Government.
@Ronan Mc: anyone but the Healy Raes please.
@Ronan Mc: Think of them what you may, but Kerry is their priority – that’s why they keep being elected. The rest of them just look after their doners and cronies.
@Dermot Blaine:
The Healy Raes are certain to be in.
They are a cheap deal.
SDs or lab will want major changes in policy but all the likes of the Healy Raes etc want are a few new roadworks and people to stop applying planning and building regulations too rigorously.
@P. J.: The Healy Raes won’t be selected, guaranteed.
@P. J.: Healy Rae’s won’t be in ,they can squeeze more out of the government from outside the circle,plus it means they are not held accountable for anything fffg do
@P. J.: and a relaxation of the drink driving laws
Losing Stephen Donnelly is beyond devastating, a smile that could light up Wicklow
Must say the journal have done an excellent job reporting. Found the interactive map better than RTÉ. Fair play
The show is over but the obese lady is not singing.
I hope The Monk finds out who didn’t vote for him
@Fintan Pox:
Brendan and he also called him a bolli,,
The Smoked Salmon so called Socialist Labour party and the Social Democrats debating society will talk and talk to convince us why they can’t enter Government but bottom line they are political cowards who will put their own cushy jobs and income before the interest of the Irish people.
No surprise they are both talkers not doers.
@Tim Brennan: Why would they prop up a neo-liberal government? Labour would be nuts to prop up FFG. Political suicide. Soc Dems are no fools either. They both saw how FFG used the Greens as their patsy. Let them talk to Michael Lowry. He’s more their ilk.
Test
Stop the steal !!!
Not that I know anything about nothing …
I didn’t even read the article. Have seen nothing on French news. Hopefuly it will be over soon !
And then life can go on, whatever way it’s going …
Don’t need a bunker. I have an army bivouac and a mountain sleeping bag etc, 3 camping gas bottles, a burner etc. A couple of weeks of food and a crossbow.
And if that’s not enough : so be it
have your say