Loganair, the United Kingdom’s largest regional airline, has announced this Friday it is adding its second destination in the Republic of Ireland — Donegal. The airport serving the County of the same name, near the border with Northern Ireland, will be connected with two weekly flights to the airline’s main base in Glasgow.
The flights, according to a press release by the airline, will be operated from July 1st to September 24 on Saturdays and Sundays. The aircraft deployed will be the ATR 42-500, configured with 48 seats.
Loganair is thus making its return to Donegal’s terminal in Carrickfinn after a year and a half; it will be the second regular route from the airport — the other being Emerald Airlines’ Public Service Obligation to Dublin — and the only one to the UK.
“We are delighted to be able to restore this important connectivity between the UK and Ireland, helping families stay connected and facilitating leisure breaks too”, stated the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove, in the press release.
“We expect our summer flights to be extremely popular; therefore, we encourage customers to book as soon as possible to secure the best fares.”
Fares are already on sale in Loganair’s channels, starting at GBP65.22 (EUR75.00, depending on the starting city of the itinerary) one-way in the Donegal-Glasgow hop — initial fares are higher on the inverse direction.
“We recognise the vital importance of direct air connectivity and the key role that this air link to Donegal provides for Scottish holidaymakers”, stated Tourism Ireland’s Brand Partnership Manager, Cormac O’Suilleabhain. “We look forward to welcoming visitors from Glasgow and all over Scotland to the island of Ireland and working with Loganair to promote the route and further expand their network to the island”.
Loganair already serves the Republic of Ireland with flights to Dublin — according to Cirium’s Diio Mi application, by Summer the airport should count with connections to Aberdeen and Inverness, in Scotland.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, will be connected with flights from Belfast to Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness; and from Derry — where it has a base — to Glasgow, Liverpool and London/Stansted.
