Galway gets an extra flight daily to Dublin as part of £4.2m expansion

The Dublin-Galway air link is to be strengthened by an extra daily flight, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said last night. Outlining details of Galway Airport's £4.2 million expansion plan - which will allow for direct flights to Britain and Europe - the Minister said that an extra flight, starting in April, would bring the number of daily services between the cities to three. Details of the new carrier would be announced shortly, the Minister said. Currently Aer Lingus runs two return flights, with a third on summer Sundays. The new link will increase capacity by 50 per cent.

The Minister discussed funding arrangements for the expansion when she met Galway airport management, business leaders and representatives of the local chamber of commerce at a New Year's reception last night hosted by Galway Chamber.

Some £3.1 million will be provided by the Government, while an additional £160,000 has been provided by the State for marketing and promotion from 1996 to 1999, she said.

The investment in Galway is part of a £5 million package which the Government is making available for infrastructural improvements in Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Waterford and Galway this year, the Minister said.

The upgrading is believed to have influenced Boston Scientific's decision to expand in Galway.