A function will be held today at Donegal airport, Carrickfin, to mark the 20th anniversary of its first scheduled flight when a nine-seater aircraft, operated by Malinair, flew to Glasgow.
Since then, the airport has endured some tough times - one winter it had no regular flights at all. But it is now experiencing a period of rapid growth once again.
A record 46,000-plus passengers used the airport in 2005.
In 1985 the figure was only 2,784. By 2000 it had reached 11,566 and in 2004 it was 42,675.
There are two daily return flights from Donegal to Dublin as well as three weekly return flights to Glasgow. Passenger numbers are now four times greater than they were in 2000, largely attributed to the twice-daily return service to Dublin.
Over the past two decades, several airlines - including Ryanair, British Airways, Loganair, Ireland Airways and MacAir - have operated services, with varying degrees of success. The introduction of the Government-backed public service obligation in 1998, which saw a subsidised service between Dublin and Donegal airport, marked a major step forward.
Donegal airport is in the heart of the Gaeltacht on the western fringes of the county. Letterkenny is 30 miles to the east. For its 16,000 residents, City of Derry Airport is the same distance and served by better roads. However, improvements on the mountainous road from Carrickfin to Letterkenny have cut the journey time from one hour to 40 minutes.
Airport manager Anne Bonner says there has been a "considerable increase" in the number of passengers from the east of the county.
Donegal has strong links with Glasgow - the first choice for many emigrants through the years - and at times the airport only had flights to Scotland. The Scotland service receives no subsidy.
The airport's board has now called on Donegal County Council to increase its annual investment in the airport from €40,000 to €60,000. The airport employs 29 people and contributes an estimated €600,000 in wages to the local economy. Its presence has been invaluable in assisting business in the area, notably in Gweedore Business Park, the biggest employment centre in west Donegal.
Only three out of eight planned airport projects were approved for funding under the National Development Plan and other projects are now "becoming a priority," Ms Bonner said. These include a runway overlay (costed at €1.2 million), an extended car park, an extended aircraft apron and a terminal extension.
Future plans will be geared towards providing more frequent services using 50-70 seater aircraft, exploring the possibility of new routes to the UK and developing charter tourism.