BUSINESS AND community interests in the west and northwest have warmly welcomed the decision of Aer Lingus to provide a daily service from Ireland West Airport Knock to London Gatwick.
The service, scheduled to begin on April 6th, will bridge the 10-year gap since the airline terminated its service from the Co Mayo airport in April 1999.
Using a 174-seater Airbus A320, Aer Lingus will operate daily services to London Gatwick, the 10th- busiest airport in the world.
According to Robert Grealis, chief executive of Ireland West Airport Knock, the latest route announcement will add an additional 127,000 share capacity at the airport, increasing Knock’s share of the Irish regional market to the UK to almost 20 per cent.
“It is a huge boost for the airport and a massive vote of confidence in the region,” Mr Grealis said.
Business interests described the return of Aer Lingus as “a major coup” for the airport, which would “open up the entire region for business and tourism traffic”.
Sean Hannick, chairman of the Council for the West, recalled yesterday that Aer Lingus had provided the first charter flights to Rome in 1985 and said the airline would be “welcomed back with open arms”.
Mr Hannick added: “This is exactly the Christmas boost the region needed.”
Fergal Broder, chief executive, Lotusworks, Sligo, and chairman, American Chamber of Commerce – North West Region, said the news was a welcome boost in business connectivity to the London market and onwards worldwide for the region’s commercial and industrial sectors.
Both Castlebar and Ballina chambers of commerce have welcomed the development and expressed optimism that it is “the start of an ongoing, fruitful, relationship”.
Councillor Gerry Murray, who lives in Charlestown, on the doorstep of Knock airport, described Aer Lingus’s return as “fantastic”.
Mr Murray said he hoped Aer Lingus’s profile at Knock would grow and prosper, with the airline eventually providing a transatlantic service.
Airport executives confidently predicted that the Knock/Gatwick route announcement will provide an increase of about 35,000 tourists to the west and northwest and inject almost €12 million into the regional economy.