News Archive

Up Up and Away! Inaugural Flight to Bristol Takes Off in Style at Ireland West Knock

Ryanair routes at Ireland West Knock to help sustain 300 jobs and generate €35 million in tourism spend in the region.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline today, Wednesday 7th November, commenced its fourth route from Ireland West Airport Knock, with a new service to Bristol International Airport. The new route will compliment Ryanair’s existing network of routes at Ireland West Knock which now includes daily services to London Luton and London Stansted Airports in addition to the four-times-a-week services to East Midlands which commenced on February 27th last. The new route is a four-days-a-week service operating on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1300 making it an ideal short break destination. To celebrate this new route, Ryanair is giving away 50,000 flights for €10* on all four routes from Ireland West Knock, so passengers are advised to log onto www.ryanair.com right away, as this sale will end at midnight on Monday next. It is expected that the expansion of Ryanair at Ireland West Knock will generate an estimated 300,000 passengers at the Airport over the coming year.
 
Launching the new route Peter Sherrard, Ryanair’s Head of Communications said:
“We are delighted to launch our fourth new route from Ireland West Knock. Ryanair is committed to sustained growth from Ireland West Knock and this new route will deliver an additional 60,000 passengers to/ from the region for the lowest fares guaranteed. Ryanair has continuously operated flights at Ireland West Knock since we and the Airport were first established 21 years ago, and our four routes from this Airport will inject a visitor spend of €35 million into the region’s economy this year, while sustaining 300 local jobs.”
 
Commenting on the new route Annette Kearney, Marketing and Route Development Manager at Ireland West Airport Knock said: “The addition of this direct route to Bristol with Ryanair is a welcome addition to our UK flight network as our Airport continues to provide an ever-widening choice of great value, direct and convenient flights to our customers both in Ireland and in the UK. The new route not only provides a great new short haul break for people in the West and North West of Ireland but it also opens up a marketplace of some seven million people from the UK to the tourism industry here in Ireland. In addition, it will also provide for increased economic development for the commercial and industry sectors.”
 
Robert Grealis, CEO, Ireland West Airport Knock further commented: “With this projected growth in passengers at our Airport is it imperative that Ireland West Knock’s infrastructural developments proceed as planned and we are grateful for the support we have received from the region’s stakeholders and the public so that we can continue to provide a safe personal and hassle-free travel experience.”
Bristol International Airport is the UK’s fifth largest airport outside of London and it provides convenient access to ten counties across the West of England and South Wales. These counties include Avon, Gloucestershire, South Wales, Somerset and Dorset as well as the famous city of Bath, and the Devon and Cornwall regions which offer a wealth of scenic and coastal landscapes, and outdoor adventure activities. As European centre of culture and with a reputation as one of Europe’s most powerful economies, Bristol is an inspirational city positioned as the regional capital of England’s south west. Bristol city is a Mecca for shopping enthusiasts and it offers an abundance of museums, nightlife and arts activities.
 
Today, to mark the ‘lift off’ of the new Ryanair Bristol service a taste of Bristol was brought to Ireland West Airport Knock in the form of a hot air balloon! In 2008, Bristol will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the International Balloon Fiesta and the hot air balloon has very much become a feature over Bristol skies. Before boarding on the their flight to Bristol the first passengers to check-in on the inaugural flight got off the ground in style as they enjoyed a mini lift in the hot air balloon while enjoying a glass of champagne!
 
* Fares include taxes & charges but exclude Ireland West Airport Knock’s Development Fee payable by departing passengers aged 12 years and over.
 
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