Kerry Airport to open talks with Ryanair ahead of Dublin flights launch

Kerry Airport will begin talks with Ryanair in coming days as the carrier prepares to begin Dublin flights from there, it has emerged.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announced last week that the Government had given Ryanair the contract to take over the Dublin-Kerry service lost when Stobart Air folded in June.

Kerry Airport said in a statement on Wednesday that it would begin talks with Ryanair ahead of the carrier launching the service on July 28th.

“Ryanair has notified Kerry Airport that it intends to operate the route once a day until the end of August and has committed to restoring a twice-daily service from September,” the statement added.

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Bids

The carrier has pledged to operate the service commercially, without the State subsidy paid to Stobart, saving taxpayers €3.95 million.

The Government recruited Ryanair after seeking bids from airlines interested in taking over the public service contract from Stobart.

Ryanair stressed it would require both Kerry and Dublin airports to lower passenger charges to ensure the route was viable.

Kerry business figures and groups cautiously welcomed the news, but argued that the Government should try to maintain the route’s “public service obligation” status, allowing the State to subsidise it.

The airport said that it looked forward to welcoming passengers on board the Dublin-Kerry flights, which its statement added were open for bookings.