Airlines change schedule for game

Aer Lingus has brought forward the start of its summer schedule to Marseilles to accommodate Munster fans travelling for the Heineken Cup semi-final.

Aer Lingus has added four flights between Dublin and Marseilles on April 26, 27 and 28. The flights will depart Dublin at 6pm on April 26 or 8am on April 27. The return flights leave Marseilles at 11pm on April 27 and 28. Prices range from €362 to €372 return.

The Aer Lingus decision comes after Ryanair confirmed on Monday that it will run a Heineken Cup semi-final special departing from Cork. Last night, the flight was being quoted at €391 by the Ryanair website. The Ryanair flight out of Cork departs at 4.55pm on Friday April 25 and returns at 8.35pm the following Monday.

Ryanair also operates Dublin-Carcassonne flights over the same weekend. Carcassonne is about 310km from Marseilles. The airline also had flights from London Stansted to Marseilles for a range of dates over the Heineken Cup weekend with prices ranging from €224 to €314.

An April 25 Aer Lingus flight from Cork to Nice (about 160km from Marseilles) is booked out and the only other option out of Cork with the national carrier departs on April 21.

A Ryanair flight from Shannon to Nice departing on April 25 and returning April 28 was about €372 last night.

Meanwhile, the Munster Rugby Supporters Club (MRSC) confirmed it has received an initial allocation of 2,500 tickets but can request more from organisers the ERC if required.