RYANAIR is to begin services to Alicante in Spain from Derry and Knock airports. It is the first international route from Derry airport, which is owned by the city council.
Flights to Ryanair’s Spanish hub will operate twice weekly and are to commence on June 4th. The service from Ireland West Airport at Knock begins on June 5th.
It is estimated the new route from Knock will lead to an additional 12,000 passengers using the airport this summer. Ryanair estimates it will support 400 jobs and generate €47 million in tourism revenue for the west of Ireland.
Ryanair estimates the value of the new route from Derry at £45 million (€49.9 million) in tourism revenues and says 480 local jobs will be safeguarded.
The news comes after an announcement last week that staff levels are to be reduced at the airport in an attempt to reduce the annual running costs, estimated at £4 million (€4.4 million). The airport employs 45 people.
To facilitate longer-haul flights, Derry City Council last year demolished nearby homes to pave the way for a £19 million (€20.9 million) runway extension.