The west's air link between London and Knock International Airport in Co Mayo is secure, following the renewal of an agreement with Ryanair.
There has been no change to its twice-daily flight programme to London's Stansted airport under the deal which is to run for a year.
However, the airport board said it was continuing discussions with four other airlines, believed to be Virgin Atlantic Airways, Manx, CityJet and Jersey European. It is understood that the airport is hoping to secure a new route, possibly to Birmingham, Manchester or London.
The renewed contract with Ryanair comes 10 days after the airline threatened to suspend its service from January 11th over a new £6 passenger levy. The airport said it was forced to introduce the levy from January 17th to make up for projected dutyfree sale losses. Children under 12 years of age are to be exempted from the charge.
Duty-free sales accounted for 75 per cent of the airport's income, at about £800,000 annually.
Ryanair says it still vehemently opposes the passenger charge, and maintains that the Government should assist Knock under the regional airport programme, in the same way as Kerry, Sligo and Galway airports are assisted.
The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, is due to visit the airport after Christmas to discuss infrastructural problems.
Mr Cathal Duffy, chairman of the board, said he was pleased that a satisfactory arrangement had been reached with Ryanair.
"The abolition of duty free has been a setback, but we are confident that the travelling public will see the £6 departure charge as a small price to pay for the convenience of having direct flights into the region," he said.
