Efforts are under way to establish a new airline that would reopen the Cork- Dublin route with a possible subsequent expansion to Belfast.
Businessman Tony Cullinane says there is a strong business case for the Cork-Dublin route given the large numbers of people who travel on a daily basis by car, bus or train between the two cities.
Mr Cullinane believes €1 million in capital would be sufficient to get a new, Cork-based airline started and operating profitably.
He plans to meet Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe, having already outlined his proposals to management at Cork Airport, Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association.
He is seeking investors for the project which would involve the use of a 72-seat twin-propeller aircraft that could travel from Cork to Dublin in 30 minutes.
"We are hoping the City Council will come on board and the County Council. We are meeting Paschal Donohoe next week and we are hoping he will give us something," said Mr Cullinane.
“Hopefully we can run it on the lines of the Cork- Swansea ferry business expansion scheme, where people will buy a share of the company.”