Kerry Airport confirms German route

RYANAIR has withdrawn its Kerry to Dusseldorf service but Kerry Airport yesterday confirmed a long-running service to Frankfurt-Hahn will continue next year.

The airport said that the Dusseldorf-Weeze service was a one-season arrangement which operated three days a week from July 1 to October 23.

“Kerry Airport are aware of the dispute between Ryanair and the German authorities, but are pleased to see that the very successful Frankfurt-Hahn to Kerry service will remain a daily service for summer 2011,” it said in a statement.

The Dusseldorf route came into being due to the late availability of an aircraft based at the German airport. “Ryanair and Kerry Airport were satisfied with both the yield factor and passenger loads, while the flight proved the German market could bear at least two to three services direct to Kerry from German destinations during the summer months,” the statement read.

There was never any agreement that the service would continue for 2011 and the parties had not entered into discussions on the matter. The airport will continue to work with Ryanair with the aim of securing another German route for 2011. It is also hoped to open discussions on reintroducing the Dusseldorf-Weeze service in the future, according to Kerry Airport.

Last month, the airport sustained a serious setback when Ryanair reduced its daily return services from Kerry to Dublin from three flights to one.