Ryanair will grow its presence at Cork airport next summer with a new direct route to Croatia.
Twice-weekly direct flights to the coastal city of Zadar will get under way next April.
The announcement follows Ryanair’s decision to extend its winter Cork-Katowice service into its summer 2020 schedule, to which it has also added a twice-weekly Naples service.
Brian Gallagher, Cork airport head of aviation and commercial development, said the new route was a mark of Ryanair’s commitment to Cork.
“We expect holidaymakers across Munster and the south-east will reap the benefits of this new twice-weekly service operated by Ryanair next summer,” he added.
Cork expects to enter a fifth consecutive year of passenger growth next year, with numbers forecast to increase a further 5%.
Some 2.6 million passengers travelled through the airport this year, up 8% on 2018. Cork now offers more than 50 UK and continental European routes.
Additionally, Ryanair expects its passenger numbers at Cork airport to come in 23% up this year, the largest growth of any Irish airport.
New winter services include Alicante, Budapest, Malta, Katowice and Poznan.
Ryanair will also fly to Zadar from Liverpool next summer.