Big guns join Kerry battle of the skies

RYANAIR and CityJet have joined in a three-way fight to try to prise a €5 million-a-year State subsidy for operating the Kerry-Dublin air route from Aer Arann.

If Ryanair succeed in winning the three-year contract, the low-cost carrier could route 300,000 extra passengers a year through the airport, where Aer Arann currently handles close to 120,000 passengers.

A successful CityJet bid would result in close to 230,000 passengers on the route, according to industry sources.