Ryanair adds 7 Dublin routes

Ryanair has announced seven new routes which will bring more than 800,000 new passengers through Dublin Airport this year.

As well as the new routes, the airline added 100 flights to 21 existing business routes to Britain and continental Europe, raising the number of weekly flights to 1,000. The company said the growth in flights was a direct result of the Government’s decision to scrap the travel tax from April 1 next.

The new routes will see Ryanair fly from Dublin to Basel, Bucharest, Cologne, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Nice, and Prague.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said the airline would also be releasing 100,000 seats on sale for travel in April and May.

“Our seven new Dublin routes with multiple daily frequencies are ideal for business passengers or families booking their winter sun or ski getaway,” said Mr O'Leary. “To celebrate our Dublin 2014 winter schedule and the launch of these seven new routes, we are releasing 100,000 seats on sale from €19.99 for travel in April and May, which are available for booking until midnight on Monday, 24 March.”

Managing director of the Dublin Airport Authority, Vincent Harrison, said that the news would offer consumers greater choice in terms of where they want to travel.

“We are delighted that Ryanair is expanding its winter schedule at Dublin Airport,” said Mr Harrison. “These seven new winter routes and the increased frequencies on 21 existing Ryanair services provide the travelling public with greater choice.”

“Dublin Airport has already had a very strong start to the year, with passenger numbers up 9% for the first two months — which is equivalent to about 200,000 extra passengers. These additional Ryanair services will help underpin that growth and hopefully carry it into 2015.”

Dublin Airport will also see 16 new services for this summer, with new long- haul and short-haul routes due to begin shortly. The airport’s long-haul traffic is expected to break records this year, with a 17% increase in North American seat capacity and a major increase in flights to the Middle East with both Emirates and Etihad going double daily later this year.