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 01st 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.

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 13th 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”.