• 26 May, 2015
• Business, Nature

Ireland West Airport Knock welcomes the Government’s decision to support IAG’s proposal to acquire Aer Lingus and the positive implications that this can have for the Airport. The Airport has a very strong working partnership with Aer Lingus and their Gatwick service, which serves over 70,000 passengers annually, has provided critical connectivity for both leisure and business passengers availing of the service over the last 6 years. The service offers excellent interlining connectivity to over 220 worldwide destinations available from London Gatwick Airport.

In view of today’s announcement the airport welcomes the commitments made by IAG to ‘sustain and grow the current  Aer Lingus London Gatwick service at Ireland West Airport Knock’ and ‘enhance the service further by connecting it to over 60 IAG destinations served from London Gatwick’.

Almost 500,000 passengers have used the Aer Lingus London Gatwick service from the Airport over the past 6 years and the service has been a significant contributor to tourism and business in the regional economy.

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock, added ‘We welcome today’s announcement, and should the transaction be completed, look forward to actively working with IAG and Aer Lingus in growing our important London Gatwick service and to exploring the new growth opportunities that will be available as part of the IAG Group, ensuring air access to and from the West & North West of Ireland continues to develop and prosper’.

Earlier this year the airport were delighted to further enhance their partnership with Aer Lingus with the announcement of a new transatlantic pilgrimage service from New York to take place in August of this year. This represents a historic development for the airport and the region as it will be the first ever transatlantic service operated by Aer Lingus, from the US to Ireland West Airport Knock and the first official chartered pilgrimage to Ireland’s National Marian Shrine. The Airport is committed to further developing seasonal transatlantic connectivity from the US and in particular with a view to delivering increased numbers of US visitors to the West and North West region of Ireland.
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