Aer Lingus fills the gap left by Ryanair after it closed its base in Bordeaux in November. Talks between Ryanair and Bordeaux Airport over an extension of services beyond November 2024 broke down earlier this year. 

Famed for its wine, France's sixth-largest city is home to numerous vineyards and châteaux where visitors can enjoy tours and tastings. It is also home to the gothic Cathédrale Saint-André, a Unesco World Heritage site. 

The new flights to Bordeaux will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from May 15 to September 13.

Meanwhile, flights to Bilbao will take off from the airport between April 16 and September 14 and will run three times a week — Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. 

The largest city in the Basque Country of northern Spain has been experiencing significant revitalisation, kickstarted by the popularity of the Guggenheim museum.

Fares for both destinations will start from €59.99.

From next summer, there will also be additional services to destinations elsewhere in Spain, including Lanzarote, Tenerife and Palma de Mallorca. 

Direct flights from Cork Airport to Palma will operate five times per week from May 1, to Lanzarote four times per week, and to Tenerife three times per week from March 30.

Aer Lingus chief strategy and planning officer Reid Moody said the new routes would provide customers with "more opportunities to explore European culture" while Cork Airport's head of aviation business development and communications Tara Finn said the new additions formed part an "exciting summer schedule" for the country's second-busiest airport.

This follows Cork Airport's announcement of a summer route to Turkey’s third-largest city, Izmir, earlier this year.