Ryanair has announced a new route between Dublin and Kerry following the collapse of Stobart Air.
The budget airline confirmed that it will operate a commercial, unsubsidised flight schedule on the Dublin – Kerry route.
Stobart Air, which operated Aer Lingus regional routes, closed down last month prompting the Government to seek operators for the route.
Ryanair told the Department of Transport it would operate the route on a commercial basis, saying there would be no need for a PSO tender competition.
The two had a disagreement after Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said Ryanair had agreed to fly the route without subsidies from July 19.
However, Ryanair issued a statement saying no such agreement had been reached.
The Department of Transport then released correspondence stating that Ryanair had agreed to provide the service starting from July 19.
Ryanair will use one of its Boeing 737 800 aircraft on the route.
Flights will start on July 18 with one return service a day, rising to a double daily (morning and evening) service from September 1.
Fares will start from €19.999 one way.
Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: "Ryanair as always will stimulate traffic using our unbeatable low fares which have already seen the successful growth of 6 international routes to Kerry from London-Stansted, Manchester, Frankfurt, Alicante, Faro and Luton.
"We hope to build on that success to make this unsubsidised commercial service between Kerry and Dublin viable for the long term.
"These new flights mean that Dublin passengers can readily access Kerry for short breaks, and the people of Kerry can access Dublin for business, for leisure, and also to make flight connections through Dublin Airport.
"We will be offering the Kerry football team free flights to Dublin in late August, where we hope they will meet (and beat) Dublin in this year’s All Ireland Final."
