Derry to Dublin flights 'could resume by end of 2026'

Flights between Londonderry and Dublin could resume by the end of 2026 after a 14-year break, an Irish government minister has said.

A daily flight between City of Derry Airport and Dublin, funded by the Irish government, was withdrawn in 2011.

Attempts to revive the service faltered in 2016 following the Brexit referendum.

Now, Irish government minister and Donegal TD (Irish MP) Charlie McConalogue has told BBC News NI discussions to have the service reinstated by the end of next year are ongoing.

"The Irish government are committed to stepping this forward, have put a timeline in place as to how we can make this happen, and I have been liaising with the minister for transport and City of Derry management," he told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show.

McConalogue said restoring the route had been a commitment in the Irish government's programme for government and it would progress.

He added that next month the transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will meet management at the airport to further progress the plans.

The route would be funded under a public service obligation (PSO).

A PSO air route sees a government support flights which would not be commercially viable without financial assistance.

Currently, the London government provides financial backing for the Derry to London PSO route.

McConalogue said the loss of the service in 2011 has "been a real disadvantage to Derry, Donegal, and the north west region".

Its resumption would provide the region with "really important connectivity, international connectivity," he said.

He added: "Obviously there are a number of steps there in terms of the economic analysis and the role of the Shared Island Unit which has been very important to a number of initiatives."

The Irish government's Shared Island Unit was established in 2020 to deliver all-island investment projects.

Money has previously been put towards big projects in Northern Ireland like the A5 road and the redevelopment of Casement Park.