Ryanair to close domestic routes

Ryanair is to cease its flights between Dublin and Kerry and between Dublin and Cork in the next two months.

The low-cost airline wtill close its Dublin-Kerry route from Sept 7 ("All Ireland" flights on Sept 17, 18 and 19 will operate) while flights on its Dublin-Cork route will stop from October 30.

The airline blames the closures on "the continued excessive DAA monopoly charges at both Dublin and Cork Airports".

They also claim that motorway improvements, which have reduced driving times between Dublin and Cork to 2.5 hours, have resulted in a marked decline in traffic on the Cork route.

The announcement also marks an end of all domestic flights at Cork Airport.

Ryanair passengers who have booked to travel on these routes after their closure will receive a full refund in due course.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: "Ryanair regrets having to close our Dublin – Cork and Dublin – Kerry routes. However, passengers have been voting with their feet and switching to the convenience of driving 2.5 hours between Dublin and Cork.

"Meanwhile, since this Govt clearly prefers to subsidise high fares with the awarding of yet another pointless PSO on the Dublin – Kerry route, Ryanair has been forced to close our unsubsidised low fare flights on this route, from 7th Sept."