New York most sought after destination for Cork Airport passengers, survey reveals 

New York is the most sought-after destination for future connectivity at Cork Airport for business travellers, according to a survey published this week.

Cork Chamber’s Cork Airport Survey 2026 found a direct air link to New York is the top among business travellers in the region, while it also tops the wish list among Chamber members for inbound tourism, with almost a quarter of respondents rating it the number one priority.

The survey was conducted by Cork Chamber in partnership with Cork Airport, and looked at businesses’ current route preferences and priorities for future connectivity, as well as business traveller satisfaction with broader airport services and operations at the southern gateway.

Earlier this year, Cork Airport managing director Niall MacCarthy said Boston, New York, and Toronto were “specific targets” for Cork.

While New York was the preferred future route for business travel from Cork, some 34% of survey respondents cited a European capital as a top priority for future business connectivity, with Berlin, Copenhagen, and Madrid cited as key priorities. 

The majority of responding businesses would use a direct Cork to Belfast route if available, with 52% likely to do so at least quarterly.

Heathrow was cited by respondents as the most frequently used hub for onward travel, followed by Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and Zurich. 

The survey found 87% of respondents indicated that direct connectivity into Cork was extremely important or very important for colleagues travelling from overseas.

"What emerged clearly from the survey results was the importance of direct connectivity into Cork for businesses operating across the region. "The southern region is home to a broad range of multinationals and large domestic enterprises, many of whom value proximity to Cork Airport for its high level of service," said Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy.

The high level of service and ease of use offered by Cork Airport remained a draw for business travellers, with respondents rating the airport highly for ease of use, customer service, and parking.