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Dublin Live
22-05-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Flights between Derry and Dublin Airport could resume next year
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Flights between Derry and Dublin could resume next year, a Minister of State has said. A daily flight between the capital and City of Derry Airport that was funded by the Irish Government was scrapped in 2011. Minister of State at the Department of Tourism Charlie McConalogue told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show that there are ongoing discussions to have the service reinstated by the end of 2026. "The Irish government are committed to stepping this forward, have put a timeline in place as to how we can make this happen, and I have been liaising with the Minister for Transport and City of Derry management," he said, adding the loss has "been a real disadvantage to Derry, Donegal, and the north-west region". According to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the City of Derry Airport welcomed 48,000 passengers during the summer 2023 quarter. This is less than half the airport's strongest recorded quarter, when almost 130,000 people travelled through the airport from July to September 2011. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Dublin to Derry flights could be back by 2026
MORE than decade after it vanished from departure boards, flights between Dublin and the City of Derry Airport (CoDA) could be restarted by the end of 2026. The route, which was dropped in 2011, has long been considered a missing cog in the transportation infrastructure of the area. At its peak, the airport welcomed nearly 130,000 passengers in the July–September period of 2011. In comparison, passenger numbers during the same time in 2023 stood at just 48,000, highlighting the steep drop in usage following route cancellations and the broader impact of the pandemic. Irish Minister of State and Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue confirmed that talks are taking place to revive the route, which would be supported through a public service obligation (PSO) scheme. PSO routes involve government subsidies to maintain air services that are not financially viable on a commercial basis but are deemed essential for regional connectivity. McConalogue emphasised the Irish government's commitment to the project, highlighting that the restoration of the route was a stated goal in the current programme for government. He also noted the involvement of the Irish transport minister, Darragh O'Brien, who is expected to meet with airport management in the coming weeks to move things along. The loss of the Dublin route has been widely acknowledged as a setback for Derry, Donegal and the broader northwest region. McConalogue described it as a 'real disadvantage', stressing the importance of restoring international connectivity and the potential for the route to support local economic growth. The initiative is being developed with input from the Irish government's Shared Island Unit, which was created in 2020 to support cross-border infrastructure and investment. This unit has played a role in many large-scale projects in Northern Ireland, including upgrades to the A5 road and the redevelopment of Casement Park. City of Derry Airport welcomed the news, describing the efforts as a 'positive development' and underscoring the importance of economic links between Dublin and the northwest. Airport representatives noted that reinstating the route could help sustain local employment and improve overall accessibility for the region. This announcement follows a separate commitment to continue subsidising direct flights between Derry and Heathrow until March 2027. That service, operated by Loganair, is supported by a joint funding package from Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy and the UK Department for Transport, totalling £4.6 million. If successful, the reintroduction of the Dublin–Derry route could offer renewed opportunities for tourism, business and community development. A significant factor for travellers is time; while taking a car, bus or train can take anywhere between three and a half to five hours, a flight would only take between 20 and 40 minutes. However, with these benefits, there are also environmental concerns. Short-haul flights are among the most carbon-intensive forms of transport, and their environmental impact is especially questionable when viable alternatives, such as rail, exist. Considering the global climate crisis, expanding air travel this way could draw criticism from environmental groups. These worries are already shaping transport policy in other parts of Europe. France has taken the bold step of banning domestic short-haul flights where train journeys of two and a half hours or less are available. This policy, implemented in 2023, aims to cut carbon emissions by encouraging travellers to choose trains instead of flights. In this landscape, proposals like the Dublin–Derry route raise questions about whether government-subsidised flights are a sustainable solution, especially if greener options, like cross-border rail upgrades, could serve similar purposes with far less cost to the environment.
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin to Derry flights ‘could resume by 2026' in boost to north-west region
Flights between City of Derry Airport (CoDA) and Dublin were cancelled in 2011. The airport is currently the least busy of three major airports in the north of Ireland. Recent air travel numbers from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) revealed the airport's summer quarter 2023 saw it welcome 48,000 travellers. The number is less than half the airport's strongest recorded quarter, when it saw close to 130,000 travellers in July-September 2011. Since that high point, the airport has faced the loss of routes like Ryanair's former Derry to Dublin flight, and the disruption of the global pandemic. Donegal TD Mr McConalogue told BBC News NI that talks to reinstate the Derry to Dublin route are ongoing. "The Irish government are committed to stepping this forward, have put a timeline in place as to how we can make this happen, and I have been liaising with the minister for transport and City of Derry management," he told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show. McConalogue said it been a commitment in the Government's programme for government and that it would move forward. He added that next month the transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will meet the airport management. McConalogue said the loss has "been a real disadvantage to Derry, Donegal, and the north-west region". In April, it was announced that direct flights between Derry and Heathrow will continue to be subsidised for two more years. It followed an announced by Stormont Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald of £4.626 million of funding from her department and Westminster's Department for Transport. It will ensure the continuation of flights between CoDA and Heathrow until March 31, 2027.
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Dublin to Derry flights ‘could resume by 2026' in boost to north-west region
An Irish Government minister has indicated that flights between Londonderry and Dublin could be reinstated by the end of 2026. Flights between City of Derry Airport (CoDA) and Dublin were cancelled in 2011. The airport is currently the least busy of NI's three major airports. Recent air travel numbers from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) reveal the airport's summer quarter 2023 saw it welcome 48,000 travellers. The number is less than half the airport's strongest recorded quarter, when it saw close to 130,000 travellers in July-September 2011. Since that high point, the airport has faced the loss of routes like Ryanair's former Derry to Dublin flight, and the disruption of the global pandemic. Irish Minister of State and Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue told BBC News NI that talks to reinstate the Derry to Dublin route are ongoing. "The Irish government are committed to stepping this forward, have put a timeline in place as to how we can make this happen, and I have been liaising with the minister for transport and City of Derry management," he told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show. McConalogue said it been a commitment in the Irish government's programme for government and that it would move forward. He added that next month the transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will meet the airport management. McConalogue said the loss has "been a real disadvantage to Derry, Donegal, and the north-west region". In April it was announced that direct flights between Londonderry and Heathrow will continue to be subsidised for two more years. It followed an announced by Stormont Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald of £4.626 million of funding from her department and Westminster's Department for Transport. It will ensure the continuation of flights between CoDA and Heathrow until March 31 2027.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
City of Derry Airport: Stormont takes costs away from ratepayers
The executive will cover the multi-million-pound annual running costs of City of Derry Airport for the next four years, the economy minister has by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC), running the airport costs almost £3.5m each year which has historically been covered by Minister Caoimhe Archibald said her department has now assumed responsibility, and will provide up to £3m annually in a deal that runs until added, the department's funding "will enable the airport to plan for future growth in the years ahead". "The airport is integral to the economic development of Northern Ireland's north west," Archibald assuming control of its running costs, she said, the council would now be able to focus funding on "supporting the north west's ongoing competitiveness and ability to trade, attract inward investment and inbound tourism". In January 2024, it was reported the airport was facing an estimated £729,000 shortfall, while three years previously the council warned it was facing "severe financial risk".Stormont has previously provided financial aid to the airport, including in October 2024 when the Department of Infrastructure said it was providing a £3m package for the Eglinton same month, then Economy Minister Conor Murphy, said the department intended to assume responsibility for the running costs from April 2025. Steve Frazer, the managing director of City of Derry Airport, said the four-year funding deal is "pivotal" for the airport's future stability."This announcement ensures we are well placed to continue supporting the region's ambitious growth plans and our continued contribution to the region's economy," he Mayor of Derry and Strabane Lilian Seenoi Barr said the council and airport can now "strategically plan" for the airport's development and airport "is a critical infrastructure asset that provides connectivity and is fundamental to business and tourism in the area", she added. Earlier this month it was announced direct flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow will be subsidised by the Northern Ireland and UK governments for another two 2017, flights between Derry and London have been subsidised under a public service obligation (PSO).
