Even with an early start this morning, the atmosphere at Cork Airport was one of excitement and anticipation as nearly 750 Irish rugby fans departed for Paris ahead of Ireland’s opening Six Nations fixture versus France tonight.
A total of three flights will depart Cork Airport for Paris today – an Aer Lingus scheduled service to Paris Charles de Gaulle, a charter service to Paris Charles de Gaulle and a charter service to Paris Orly. Amongst the passengers travelling this morning were customers from across Munster, flying with two local travel agencies, Lee Travel and Dawson Travel along with sports travel specialists, Killester Travel and Cassidy Travel. Many other fans at the airport were making their way to Paris via connecting flights in London, Edinburgh and Manchester.
With three flights scheduled for departure within one hour this morning, Cork Airport’s security team were well prepared for the hundreds of travelling fans. All passengers travelling to Paris cleared airport security in eight minutes or less this morning.
The popularity of travel for international sporting fixtures such as the Six Nations Rugby championship continues to grow in popularity and later this month, more Irish rugby fans will avail of Cork Airport’s excellent connectivity to London as Ireland play England in Twickenham on February 21.
Speaking as fans departed for Paris this morning, Barry Holland, Communications Manager at Cork Airport said: “As Ireland take on France in their Six Nations opener tonight, it was fantastic to see so many fans flying to Paris today. With plenty green hats, scarves and jerseys around the terminal, occasions like this bring great excitement and we’re especially pleased to see our local travel agencies continue the great tradition of arranging charters for many loyal Irish rugby fans. Our own airport security team did a tremendous job this morning, ensuring that all fans cleared security screening in eight minutes or less.”
Paul Dawson, Sales Manager at Dawson Travel added: With an almost full flight for our two-night trip to Paris for the Six Nations fixture against France, we have a very excited bunch of Irish fans travelling out of Cork Airport. We expect a very touch encounter with France, but our fans will be there in the thousands, to cheer on our men in green. What an exciting fixture to kick off the 2026 Six Nations!”
