Cuireann Cathaoirleach agus Bord Aerfort Dhún na nGall fáilte mhór roimh fhógra an Aire Iompair go gcuirfear an socrú maidir leis an eitleán thar oíche agus na heitiltí i lár an lae araon ar aerbhealach Dhún na nGall-Baile Átha Cliath ar ais mar a bhíodh le feidhm ón 1 Bealtaine 2026.
Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Darragh O’Brien, le hoifigigh na Roinne Iompair agus le Emerald Airlines as rannpháirtíocht na bpáirtithe uile leis an tseirbhís chriticiúil seo a chur ar ais mar a bhí, agus táimid ag tnúth le bheith ag obair leis an aerlíne thar thréimhse an chonartha seo chun an tseirbhís is fearr is féidir a chur ar fáil dár gcuid paisinéirí. Ciallaíonn an t-athbhreithniú ar an chonradh leis na hamanna eitilte riachtanacha go bhfuil socrú déanta anois don tseirbhís seo don tréimhse suas go dtí Feabhra 2030, rud a ligeann dúinn ár gcuid pleananna forbartha agus margaíochta don tréimhse sin a chur i gcrích.
Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas ar leith a ghabháil lenár gcuid paisinéirí go léir as a bhfoighne le roinnt míonna anuas agus as a gcuid dlúthtacaíochta ón 13 Eanáir 2025 nuair a tháinig muid ar an eolas den chéad uair faoi na hathruithe ar chlár ama na n-eitiltí. Aithnímid gur tréimhse dheacair a bhí ann, le héiginnteacht dár bhfoireann agus d'úsáideoirí uile an aerfoirt araon, agus táimid sásta anois go bhfuil na heitiltí á n-athbhunú ar deireadh go dtí na hamanna cuí, chun freastal ar riachtanais an phobail taistil.
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Bhord an Aerfoirt, Garry Martin, “Mar Chathaoirleach, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Pat the Cope Ó Gallachóir, a bhí lárnach sa phlé chun teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Aire tráth nach raibh oifigigh na Roinne in ann freagra a thabhairt orainn agus a chuir ar ár gcumas ár gcás a chur i láthair go díreach don Aire ar dtús agus, ina dhiaidh sin, d’oifigigh shinsearacha na Roinne. Ba mhaith liom fosta aitheantas a thabhairt don tacaíocht a fuair muid ón Teachta Piaras Ó Dochartaigh agus ónár n-ionadaithe poiblí eile go léir le linn na tréimhse seo, ó úsáideoirí aerfoirt agus ó ghrúpaí pobail, agus go háirithe ó choiste Eitiltí agus Seirbhísí Ailse Dhún na nGall, a d'oibrigh gan stad gan staonadh chun aird a tharraingt ar thionchair an t-amchláir athbhreithnithe ar a gcuid othar. Is mór againn a n-iarrachtaí uile le roinnt míonna anuas’.
“Is acmhainn iontach é Aerfort Dhún na nGall do mhuintir an chontae. Cuireann sé nasc atá éifeachtach ó thaobh ama agus ó thaobh costais de ar fáil chuig agus ó Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Glaschú. Agus ár n-amanna eitilte á n-athsheoladh againn ó mhí na Bealtaine, iarrfaimid ar an oiread agaibh agus is féidir smaoineamh ar ár seirbhísí iontacha a úsáid go Baile Átha Cliath agus go Glaschú araon.”
The Chairman and Board of Donegal Airport warmly welcome the announcement by the Minister for Transport that both the overnighting aircraft and the midday flights on the Donegal-Dublin route will be restored effective from 01
st May 2026.
We would like to thank Minister Darragh O’Brien, Department of Transport officials and Emerald Airlines for the constructive engagement by all parties which enabled the restoration of these critical flight times, and we look forward to working with the airline over the duration of this contractual period to provide the best possible service to our passengers. The revision of the contract with the required flight times means that we now have a commitment to this service for the period up to February 2030, which allows us to plan with confidence our development and marketing plans for that period.
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We would particularly like to thank all of our passengers for their patience over the past number of months and for the groundswell of support which we have witnessed since 13
th January 2025 when we first became aware of the impending flight time changes. We recognise that it has been a difficult period, with uncertainty for both our staff and all airport users, and we are relieved that the flights are finally being restored to what we believe are the optimum times to meet the needs of the travelling public.
The Chairman of the Airport Board, Garry Martin, concluded, “As Chairman, I would particularly like to thank Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, who has been instrumental in our getting access to the Minister at a time when Department officials were not in a position to respond to us and which allowed us to initially present our arguments directly to the Minister and, subsequently, to senior Department officials. I also want to acknowledge the support that we have received from Deputy Pearse Doherty, and all of other our public representatives during this time, airport users and community groups, and in particular the Donegal Cancer Flights and Services, who have worked tirelessly in highlighting the impacts of the revised timetable on their users. We greatly appreciate all of their efforts over the past number of months”.
“Donegal Airport is a fantastic resource to the people of the county. It provides an efficient and cost-effective link to and from Dublin and Glasgow. As we relaunch our flight times from May, I would encourage and ask as many of you as possible to consider using our wonderful services to both Dublin and Glasgow”.
ENDS