RYANAIR has announced 18 new routes from Dublin to other parts of Europe turning Dublin Airport into its 16th European base.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said today that he “is absolutely certain” that it was the right Government decision to give Shannon airport its independence.

Dublin Airport has been forced to suspend operations until 1.30pm this afternoon to allow snow to be cleared from the runways.

Ryanair has said it will reduce its Shannon base by 75% - cutting its aircraft numbers from four to one – if the Government does not remove the €10 tourist tax or if the airport fails to reduce its cost base by 50%.

IN justifying his decision in 2007 to enter government Green Party leader John Gormley cited advice given to him during coalition negotiations by Mary Harney, a woman who at that stage had been a senior minister for 10 years (and who had been a junior minister earlier in her career).

MICHEÁL Martin says he wants to be the next Taoiseach (not Tánaiste), that Enda Kenny is becoming increasingly detached from ordinary people, and that any talk of a split in Fianna Fáil is now buried.

Around half of flights in Europe could be delayed due to a fault with an air traffic management system.

Dublin Airport continued to grow faster than its counterparts in Cork and Shannon in the first quarter, growing more than 4%, according to official figures.

LAUNCHING a high-profile long-haul airline service out of Dublin, in the current climate, may raise a few eyebrows.

RYANAIR said it will pull more routes from the country’s larger airports and relocate to smaller bases such as Kerry and Knock.

Ryanair has issued a come and get me appeal for Cork Airport to lower its landing costs ahead of the low fares airline taking delivery of a batch of new aircraft — some of which could be used to expand services at the airport.

London’s Heathrow Airport has put forward proposals for a sloping runway and said the landing strip could be shortened as it seeks to cut £2.5bn (€2.8bn) from the cost of expansion plans.