TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan and the Dublin Airport Authority have vigorously defended their involvement in Ryanair’s failed bid to create 500 engineering and support jobs at the former SR Technics site at Dublin Airport.

The Government tonight hit back at Ryanair claims that it ignored a massive jobs offer at Dublin Airport insisting there were obstacles too tough to overcome.

THOUSANDS of Eurostar passengers anxious to get away for Christmas battled for train places out of London yesterday as heavy rains and freezing conditions sparked yet more travel chaos across Europe.

The collapse of tour operator XL is the latest blow to the UK air travel industry, which has endured a torrid summer with a number of companies closing down.

A bomb alert on board a Ryanair flight today was given to the plane's captain in the form of a note in a magazine, Strathclyde Police Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson said.

It is thought that passengers have left a Ryanair plane, believed to be a Boeing 737, which diverted to Glasgow Prestwick Airport after a security alert.

A police operation was launched today after a Ryanair plane was diverted to Glasgow Prestwick Airport following a security alert.

TELEVISION channel TG4 yesterday came under fire for an advertisement featuring a teacher dressed in risqué clothing.

Ryanair has announced a deal to base up to four new 737 planes and deliver up to two million passengers per annum to Lubeck Airport in northern Germany, which serves the city of Hamburg.

Ryanair is to begin two new routes from Glasgow to Milan and Shannon.