Can I ask those with more knowledge why a PSO route is needed between Donegal & Dublin especially? Google maps says it takes around 3 hours by car which is about the same as Aberdeen to Glasgow. Nobody would think about flying that route!

Historically Sligo, Knock and Galway had PSO routes, I don't know if Derry did also have some funding despite not being in Eire.
Kerry and Donegal were deemed to be most in need of the routes when they were reviewed during the financial crisis, in terms of their proximity and local need/reliance as rural communities.

You are perhaps making the understandable but completely erroneous assumption that Donegal airport is near Donegal town? Donegal is a spread-out county with generally poor roads. In fact Google Maps suggests that to drive from Donegal Airport to Dublin would take over 4 hours - see here.

If it weren't for offshore hydrocarbons, would Donegal airport still have a PSO route to Dublin as the nearest hub airport ? Or is the route driven primarily for the locals ?

No direct rail link and the planned cross border upgrade of the N/A2 road is the sole reason it's still running. It most likely probably will be around for 10 years at least.

If anything at this stage Kerry has good roads and good rail links to Cork and Dublin. Can't see this one being scrapped for political reasons.

For the region in general. Touching it politically wouldn't go down well unless major improvements are made to transport.

Average loads on both would be between 60-70%.

My apologies. I guess locally to me the equivalent would be Aberdeen to Wick in terms of driving time and this route is indeed flown by Eastern Airways. I think it survives without a PSO though. Was only questioning as wasn't sure if it was a good use of Irish taxpayers' money. Next shortest route, on the UK mainland, from here would be Newcastle.

Any idea when the new route to NQY will be available to book ?


cs

Has anyone seen EI-REI around recently? There seems to be no coverage of it anywhere of late. Also is there any news on EI-REM since it returned to Dublin?

REM is based in SEN.

REL and REI are both away on heavy maintenance in MGL.

Donegal
 

Re Donegal Dublin surface transport time you'd be very lucky to complete the journey in 4 hours. The coach between The mid part of Donegal and Dunlin takes 5 hours. The airport is further north. I believe the airport (Carickfinn) is located about 45 minutes north of Dongeal town.

The airport supports the majority of Donegal county which is approx 160,000 people. But Donegal town is only 2,000 of that.

Looks like REI has returned from heavy maintenance in MGL. Now operating for WX ex CWL in WX colours. EI-EHH now showing as returned to Stobart Air. Anyone know if this aircraft is back operating for EI Regional?

Yes - EI-EHH op DUB-NCL-DUB on Sunday afternoon.

Stobart will return to Shannon with a 6x weekly Birmingham service.

The BHX-SNN timings don't seem to fit in with the DUB-BHX ATR operation as shown in the EI timetable, in other words it's not clear how the ATR operating BHX-SNN-BHX gets to and from BHX. It looks as though there must be some more timetable changes to come.

Something somewhere will get the chop for this route that's for sure.

SNN-BHX probably being done by an ORK based a/c on a W pattern.

So a cork route will get the chop?

Its widely reported as a W pattern from Dub though.

It would make sense if ORK became a 3 A/C base?

It also looks like STK have not taken up their options for additional A/C with MSN 1239 heading to Air Madagascar.

Perhaps a wise move with competition increasing on UK-Ireland routes with BE and VLM.

In all honesty, how long do we think the W6 CWL operation will last? REI will be back soon enough.

An ATR72-500 could be displaced from the SEN operation and return to EIR duties?. It was first thought that was the original aircraft going to Cardiff for Cityjet

I thought it was going to CWL for BE?