Passenger numbers using the service between Carrickfin airport in Co Donegal and Dublin have increased, according to the latest figures.
Traffic on the route was 88 per cent up in March compared with 2002 and 42 per cent higher for April than the year before, according to Mr Brendan Ó Baoill, operations manager at Donegal airport.
In January, EuroCeltic Airways, which also operated the Dublin-Sligo service, had its licence suspended and Carrickfin was left without any scheduled flights. However, Aer Arran, which had previously operated on the route under an earlier public service obligation contract, was successful in its tender to launch a new service at the beginning of March.
The growth in passenger numbers is attributable to the early morning flight, which leaves Donegal at 8 a.m and returns from Dublin at 7.20 p.m. Promotional fares have also been a factor.
A second return service to Dublin will begin on June 9th, departing Dublin at 1.10 p.m. and returning from Donegal at 2.25 pm.
The Aer Arran Express service will be officially launched by the Minister of State for Transport, Dr Jim McDaid, this evening .
The airport is also earning revenue from a three-times weekly service from Aberdeen which brings in crews for the Enterprise Energy oil exploration drill which began operations on the Dooish well 80 miles north-west of Carrickfin last week.