The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is to travel to Mayo on Sunday to mark the introduction of direct transatlantic flights between Ireland West Airport, Knock, and New York.
From May 27th, flyglobespan, a Scottish-based low-cost airline, will operate three flights a week between the Mayo airport and JFK airport in New York, along with two weekly flights to Boston's Logan Airport.
The routes were approved by the US department of transportation following lobbying by Mr Bloomberg.
Flights to JFK will depart from Ireland West Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 2.30pm, arriving at JFK at 6pm local time. Flights from JFK to Knock will depart at 8pm and arrive at 7.20am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays.
Fares on the flights will start at €157 plus tax.
The decision to introduce direct flights to Knock arose from Mr Bloomberg's last visit to Ireland, when he passed through the airport on his way to dedicating a memorial to the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard in Ballymote, Co Sligo.
Following a meeting with Joe Kennedy, chairman of the airport, Mr Bloomberg promised to lobby the federal government to approve flights between Ireland West Knock and the United States.
"For centuries, New York city and Ireland have shared a strong bond, and we have had the good fortune to be the island's 33rd county," said Mr Bloomberg.
"Not only will these flights make it easier for Americans to get to the west of Ireland, it will enable even more Irish residents to visit New York."
It is estimated the transatlantic flights could bring up to 35,000 US tourists and an estimated €28 million spending boost to the region in 2007.