The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, TD, today [9 July 2021], announced the return of air services on the Kerry and Donegal routes. The Kerry route will be operated by Ryanair on a commercial basis and a preferred bidder has been identified for a PSO funded Donegal route.
The collapse of Stobart Air on 12 June had resulted in an immediate cessation of Government funded Public Service Obligations (PSO) on vital regional air routes between Dublin and the airports of Donegal and Kerry.Given the importance of these flights to the regions and the people they serve, the government made a commitment to restore air services as a matter of urgency.
An emergency procurement process to restore these PSO services was launched on 21 June. While the Donegal route will continue to operate as a PSO Government funded route, Ryanair has stepped in to operate the Kerry route on a commercial basis with twice daily flights from the 19th of July.