Shares in Aer Lingus owner IAG plunged 9% and Ryanair fell more than 1% as the crisis for international airlines, in the wake of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, deepened.

Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, is at risk of collapse, according to a report.

Cork flight school Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) has announced a new partnership with low-cost Turkish airline Pegasus to train their pilots.

A passenger who was on board a flight which landed in Cork Airport amid a lightning storm said it was "the most traumatic" flight she has ever experienced.

The operator of the Aer Lingus Regional route network has said it intends to play a leading part in further consolidation among Europe's smaller airlines despite losses mounting in its latest financial year.

Passenger numbers at Kerry Airport grew by 9 per cent in 2018, according to the airport’s annual report and accounts released today.

Cabin crew staff servicing Aer Lingus Regional flights look set for strike action over Easter due to a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Stobart Air has announced a deal with KLM Cityhopper to provide up to eight flights per day from Amsterdam.

Shares in UK regional airline Flybe soared over 33% after Aer Lingus-owner IAG reportedly joined the race to buy the business.

Ryanair has been named as a possible significant beneficiary — though an unlikely outright buyer — from an expected sale of British regional airline Flybe.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime.

Passenger baggage loaded into the incorrect hold of an Aer Lingus plane travelling between Dublin and France could have resulted in serious loss of control, air accident investigators have warned.

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, has increased its passenger numbers on its Dublin to Donegal route by 52% and by 35% on its Dublin to Kerry route.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

Aer Lingus saw a near 27% increase in passenger numbers last month, starting the second quarter of the year strongly after parent group IAG reported solid earnings for the first three months.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Flybe Group, Europe’s biggest regional airline, has appointed Christine Ourmieres-Widener as CEO. She succeeds Saad Hammad, who stood down in October, after struggling to increase earnings.

The boss of Aer Lingus has said he has still his mind set on the potential for growth at Cork Airport, as the airline unveiled its schedule for next summer which was focused on new services out of Dublin.

Operations at Kerry Airport have returned to normal after an earlier incident.

A Shannon-bound flight has diverted to Dublin Airport with an ill passenger.

Airline Aer Lingus has announced it will up capacity on its Dublin to Glasgow service for golf fans heading to the British Open this summer.

Passenger numbers at Cork Airport are already soaring ahead of the launch of a new summer route to Madrid.

Olé, olé olé olé! Like the rest of us, football fans are still battling with short nights and wet weather, but a sense of summer is already in the air as more travel packages for Euro 2016 were announced yesterday.

Irish airports and airspace will handle over one million flights by the end of this year — but Cork and Shannon airports have both suffered significant drops in traffic.

Aviation giant Turkish Airlines is considering new flights out of Cork Airport.

Cork Airport has announced two new routes to the UK which will start next summer.

Two separate investigations are being carried out after a passenger fell while disembarking from a plane at Dublin Airport.

Extra flights have been added and bigger aircraft are being drafted in to Cork Airport ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Aer Lingus Regional has said that the Marriage Equality Referendum has led to a boost in the numbers of passengers it carried last month.

New flights will operate from Dublin Airport to Cancun in Mexico and Montego Bay in Jamaica from next summer.

A sixth Irish person has died after a balcony collapsed on an apartment building in Berkeley, California. Read the latest on this and more in this evening’s irishexaminer.com catch-up.

Shannon Airport has reported a 5% year-on-year increase in monthly passenger numbers for May.

The heartbroken family of murdered student nurse Karen Buckley have spoken of their deep gratitude for the huge outpouring of sympathy and support they received since her disappearance and death in Glasgow two months ago.

Cork and Shannon airports suffered significant declines in their traffic movements last month, with Cork now down almost 12% this year compared to the first four months of 2014.

Cork Airport is to begin a new route to Cardiff in Wales.

Impact — the largest trade union at Aer Lingus — has said the airline’s annual results prove it can exist as a strong independent business, and does not need to be taken over to remain a relevant player.

IAG’s offer to buy Aer Lingus comes at a time when the Irish carrier is more challenged than ever and offers an unparalleled route to sustainable growth.

Aer Lingus has backed claims that more than 500 jobs would be created on new transatlantic routes if a €1 billion bid for the carrier goes through.

Representatives of Aer Lingus and its regional operation will discuss the possible sale of the Government stake in the airline with TDs and Senators this evening.