Ryanair adds new routes from Ireland West and calls for policy reform

Ryanair has announced its 2025 winter schedule for Ireland West Airport Knock, introducing flights to destinations including Lanzarote, Malaga, Tenerife, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and London. Fares start from €29.99, providing affordable travel options for passengers in the West of Ireland.

The announcement coincides with Ireland West Airport Knock’s busiest summer on record, following a peak year in 2024 when 834,000 passengers passed through the airport. Recent CSO statistics indicate that 217,591 passengers travelled through the airport in Q2 2025 alone, with 45,793 flying to and from London’s Luton Airport.

Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, urged the government to amend the Regional Airports Programme (RAP) 2026-2030 to allow regional airports to expand traffic without penalties. The airline recommends increasing the passenger cap from one million to three million, enabling further growth and investment.

Under the current RAP 2021-2025, Ireland West Airport Knock received €4.76 million of a total €16.4 million allocated to regional airports. Funding supported major infrastructure upgrades, including electrical systems, a new fire training centre, a fire tender vehicle, and runway safety enhancements.

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport Knock, welcomed Ryanair’s winter schedule, highlighting the airport’s continued partnership with the airline and its role in supporting regional connectivity and economic development in the West of Ireland.

Looking ahead, May 30, 2026, will mark the fortieth anniversary of the airport’s official opening, further emphasising its strategic importance to the region.

Explore how these new routes and policy proposals could reshape regional air travel.