Derry airport used more than €1.8m to promote Ryanair

City of Derry airport has handed more than €1.8m of ratepayers' money to promote airline giant Ryanair, it was revealed today.

City of Derry Airport’s owners, Derry City Council have been trying to fight a Freedom of Information request to unveil its arrangements with the airline.

The deal includes free landing, navigation, parking, passenger fee and security all provided to Ryanair.

Council chief executive Anthony McGurk has already admitted the airport was costing ratepayers in the region of £1.3m (€1.93m) a year.

In the deal struck in 1999, the council agreed to a guaranteed payment of £250,000 (€372,000) a year to promote Ryanair's route from Derry to London.