U-turn of convenience for Ryanair boss

One more thing:It is almost two years since Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said there wasn't a matter of principle that the airline wouldn't overturn in five minutes for commercial gain, a point he proved again this week by announcing two new routes from Cork.

Ryanair has been at loggerheads with the Cork Airport Authority for some time over charges and the high cost of its new terminal building. Last December, Ryanair said it would only bring new business to Cork if it was allowed to use the old terminal building, which has been mothballed, as a low-cost facility.

Deputy chief executive Michael Cawley reiterated this position at a press conference in Dublin earlier this year, adding that Cork was too expensive.

On Wednesday, Ryanair reversed its position. The airline said it would begin daily services from Cork to Glasgow and East Midlands in the UK from the middle of December, bringing to six the number of destinations it serves from the rebel county.

The move is a spin-off from Ryanair's decision to base one aircraft at George Best airport in Belfast, with Cork being used to maximise utilisation of the aircraft.

The airline is also benefiting from a discount scheme for new routes from Cork and expects to carry 200,000 passengers a year on the services.

When questioned about this reversal in policy, a Ryanair spokesman said it was "a U-turn of convenience".

Fair enough.