Ryanair reduces Kerry-Faro service

Ryanair revealed last night it had to reduce flights on a twice-weekly Kerry to Faro service due to a lack of aircraft capacity.

Previously, the service to the Algarve operated from Kerry Airport for seven months, from April to October, but it will be cut back to three months for 2015, from June to August.

A spokesperson for the airline said the company regretted the cutbacks, but added its aircraft capacity would increase over the next five years as it took delivery of 180 new Boeing 737-800s.

Ryanair’s Kerry to Alicante twice-weekly service meanwhile, will operate as normal this year from April to October. It has four weekly flights from Kerry Airport to Frankfurt Hahn, five weekly flights to London Stansted and a daily flight to London Luton.

Meanwhile, the future of the vitally important Kerry-Dublin service, with four flights daily, is secure for another two years, as the Government has decided to continue subsidising the service until 2017 at least.

Kerry Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin said the continuation of the service was a major boost.

“The Kerry-Dublin air link is crucial for business and tourism connectivity for Kerry and the related revenue generated greatly assists the wider local economy,’’ he said.

There will be a further review of the subsidy in 2017.

Passengers on the route rose by 22% in the eight months to the end of October 2014, according to Aer Lingus Regional.