Direct daily flights from Galway to both London and Manchester are expected to be up and running within the next 12 months when the upgrading of the runway at Galway Airport is completed.
The board of Galway Airport is in the process of securing 50 acres of land to allow 100- seater jets to land at the airport in Carnmore, on the eastern outskirts of the city.
Airport manager Mr Jarlath Feeney said the major upgrading programme would result in the closure of the facility for six to eight weeks at the end of this year.
He said the current five flights a day link between Galway and Dublin was proving very successful with those who wanted to commute between the two cities, rather than take connecting flights on to other destinations.
There is currently a 70 per cent seat occupancy on the route, which is operated by Aer Arann.
"With the amount of traffic on the road to Dublin, people are using the service as a quicker means of getting to the capital, which means that this service will be maintained even when the new direct routes to Britain are provided," said Mr Feeney.
It is envisaged that the direct links with Manchester and London will be up and running by April of next year. The board is also examining the feasibility of opening up regular connections with Paris and Brussels in 2003.