Tender issued for subsidised Derry‑Dublin PSO air service

The Department of Transport has issued a Request for Tenders to restore a Public Service Obligation (PSO) flight link between City of Derry Airport and Dublin Airport.

The tender invites airline operators to bid for a subsidised twice‑daily service, with the contract funded by €2 million from the Government’s Shared Island Fund and lasting up to four years.

Donegal Minister of State Charlie McConalogue welcomed the move, saying the route is a top political priority and that flights must be operating no later than 28 March next year. He noted that the service will enable commuters to travel to Dublin for a day’s work and return the same evening.

Data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority show that around 22,000 Donegal residents used City of Derry Airport in Q1 2026, rising to 48,060 in the first half of the year, with 98,325 Donegal passengers recorded in the twelve months to August 2026.

McConalogue highlighted the loss of the Dublin route in 2011 as a major blow to the region and said its reinstatement will boost the cross‑border economy and improve connectivity to international flights. He also thanked Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien for their support.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Tom Fisk / Pexels.