Low-cost airline Ryanair has introduced a £5 one-way fare to Liverpool, Bristol and Leeds/ Bradford which will apply on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between October 27th and December 16th. In a separate development, Ryanair's low-cost rival Virgin Express, has begun a once-daily return service from Shannon to Brussels.

Ryanair said it will offer a £5 fare promotion each week for the next eight weeks. Including a £5 passenger service charge and £5 tax, the total one-way fare ex-Dublin will be £15. The total one-way fare from the three airports in Britain will be the equivalent of about £22 when service charges and tax are included.

Ryanair's commercial director, Mr Michael Cawley, said 100,000 seats would be available over eight weeks under the promotion. Rejecting a suggestion that the company was initiating the promotion because it could not sell seats on the routes, Mr Cawley said it was natural to have excess capacity during off-peak periods. Virgin Express' Brussels service will commence on December 8th. As an initial promotion, the company is offering a £7 one-way fare, before tax and service charges, on the service between December 8th and 14th.