Contracts Offered For Six New Air Routes Within Ireland

The new contracts are for the three-year period beginning 22 July 2008.

Minister Dempsey said:  "The PSO air services help support essential air access to the regions, thereby facilitating the achievement of Government objectives for balanced regional development.

"In particular, they provide direct and convenient access to worldwide aviation networks via the international gateway at Dublin Airport."

"Government support for the PSO air services is yet another vote of confidence in the developmental potential of the regions. 

"It aims to underpin increased economic activity, tourism and employment across the island and complements the substantial investments we are making in regional access involving all transport modes under the Transport 21 programme,", Minister Dempsey concluded.

Aer Arann has accepted contracts to operate services on routes linking Dublin with the regional airports in Galway, Derry, Sligo and Donegal. 

Cityjet has accepted the contract for the service to Ireland West Airport Knock.  The contract for the Dublin-Kerry Airport route has been offered to Ryanair who are expected to respond to the offer shortly.

Under the new PSO contracts, Aer Arann will provide three daily return services on the Galway route and two daily return services on the Sligo, Donegal and Derry routes.  CityJet will provide one return service each day on the Knock route. 

Ryanair, if they accept the offer, will provide three daily return services on the Kerry route. 

Scheduled departure times on all routes will continue to enable passengers, particularly business passengers, to make same-day return journeys from the regional airports.