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Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, departed Donegal Airport this morning on a flight operated by Ireland’s newest airline, Emerald Airlines. This flight marks the commencement, by Emerald Airlines, of government funded Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services between Donegal and Dublin airports.
A temporary contract, providing these Exchequer funded PSO services, operated by Amapola Flyg AB following the collapse of Stobart Air last June, expired on 25 February. A new contract with Emerald Airlines will operate from today until 25 February 2025 and may be extended for a further one-year period.
On this special occasion, Minister Naughton said:
"This morning’s flight, which marks Government’s commitment to ensuring continued connectivity to this region for the next 3 years, is also the inaugural flight of Emerald Airlines, Ireland’s newest airline. Emerald Airlines will operate the public service obligation air service, under the Aer Lingus Regional brand, facilitating return trips from Donegal within the day, and further international connectivity from Dublin airport through Emerald Airline’s partners. I would like to wish Emerald Airline’s every success in operating and growing this route and providing the people and businesses in the North-West with daily air services to Dublin to attend medical and other important appointments as well as supporting the economy and tourism in the region.”
The award of the new contract to Emerald Airlines follows an EU public tendering process conducted by the Department of Transport in accordance with the requirements of EU Regulation 1008/2008, which allows PSOs to airports that serve peripheral or less developed regions.
Public Service Obligations provide vital connectivity to the regions. Air service journey times on the Donegal-Dublin route, including the time involved for check-in and security clearance, are considerably shorter than the equivalent journeys by car or bus (there is no rail alternative on this route).
Following the collapse of Stobart Air on 12 June 2021, an accelerated procurement process was initiated, in line with EU rules, to restore the PSO service on the Donegal-Dublin route. A temporary contact for 7 months was awarded, with an end date of 25 February 2022. A Request for Tender for a three-year contact on the route was subsequently published on 25 August 2021. The contract awarded under this Request for Tender is for three years, and subject to satisfactory review, the term can be extended for one additional year.
Flights are available for booking now on www.aerlingus.com.