Dublin’s Department of Transport to lead meeting about re-opening Derry flight in 2026 - video Dailymotion

Derry Journal

Dublin’s Department of Transport to lead meeting about re-opening Derry flight in 2026

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00:00By connecting people, supporting our tourism, offering and delivering economic growth, improving

00:06air connectivity to the north from within these islands and further afield has an important

00:10role to play in the delivery of my economic priorities. That is why I am investing £3

00:16million per year in the city of Derry Airport. The Dublin to Derry air route has the potential

00:22to provide significant benefits to the north-west of Ireland. It will help unlock the tremendous

00:26potential of the region and, importantly, help exploit the significant investment my department,

00:32the Irish Government and others across the private and public sectors are making here.

00:37My officials are also engaging with their colleagues in the Departments of Transport in Dublin and

00:41in London, who both have a policy responsibility for public service obligation air routes across

00:48the relevant jurisdictions. Both I and my predecessor, Conor Murphy, have engaged with the Irish Government

00:53seeking firm commitments to reopen the Dublin Derry route, and I am pleased to report that

00:58ministerial approval in Dublin has been provided to undertake the preparatory work necessary to

01:04establish the Dublin Derry air services in 2026. A meeting led by the Irish Department of Transport

01:10is planned with stakeholders in the north-west in the coming weeks, and I will continue to work

01:15closely with both governments to support delivery of this important initiative.

01:19Mr Macrossan. I thank the minister for that answer, and I also thank the minister for the £3 million

01:28investment in the city of Derry airport. The SDLP have been long calling for that investment. I am glad

01:33it has now happened, to the benefit of her constituents and, of course, to mine. Minister, you have outlined the

01:39actions by the Irish Government, and they are to be welcomed. What plans have you in place to ensure that the

01:45airport remains sustainable in the future? Will it receive any further investment in terms of expansion from your

01:51department? Minister.

01:55I thank the member for his question. As he has outlined, we have committed to the investment

02:05over the next four years into the city of Derry airport, which enables the airport to be able to plan

02:10for growth in future years. We will be working along with partners, both locally in the north-west and

02:19further afield, to support the economic development of the region. I think, clearly, we are already seeing

02:26the benefits of the efforts that are being put there bearing fruit. There have been many positive

02:34announcements over recent weeks. It clearly shows the potential of the region, and that is something

02:41that I am certainly keen to support. I am happy to continue to work with partners to ensure that

02:48that continues.

02:50Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for her commitment to the Derry airport. It is really,

02:58really welcome. Can I ask, Minister, what is your assessment of the recently published Pathfinder

03:03Irish Aviation Report? Thank you.

03:05Minister.

03:06I thank the member for her questions. My officials are currently considering this recently published

03:13report by Irelandia, an Irish Aviation Investment Group. The report makes a number of recommendations for

03:20various policy initiatives which Irelandia contend will strengthen the Irish aviation industry. In the first

03:27instance, I want to consider the applicability of those recommendations to the north, and if they

03:33are applicable, how we can work with both the Irish and British governments to drive implementation.

03:41Minister, connectivity is a key economic driver for the north-west. Can you provide an update and

03:48discussions to support flights between Dublin and Derry?

03:53Minister, I thank the member for his question. I am confident that the Dublin-Derry route would help

04:03unlock tremendous potential across the region and, importantly, help exploit the significant

04:08investment that my department has made, along with the Irish government and others across the private

04:13and public sector. Officials are engaging with their colleagues in the Departments of Transport in

04:18London and Dublin, as I mentioned to Mr Macrossan earlier. Both of them have responsibility for

04:23public service obligation air routes across the relevant jurisdictions. I have been supportive of

04:29the restoration of this route for many years, and both myself and Connor Murphy had engaged in

04:34relation to seeking firm commitments to reopen the Dublin-Derry route. I am pleased that that

04:40that property work is now being undertaken to re-establish that route in 2026. My department will be supporting

04:50the work of the Irish Department of Transport and stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome to

04:57this important initiative.

Dublin’s Department of Transport to lead meeting about re-opening Derry flight in 2026

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