Ryanair responds to John O’Donoghue TD

Ryanair called on former Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue to explain why his Fianna Fáil led Govt has over the past 18 months:

1. Imposed a €4 tourist tax on return tickets on the Kerry- Dublin route,
2. Imposed a 40% increase in DAA airport fees adding €10 to the cost of a Dublin - Kerry ticket and,
3. Imposed a 25% increase in IAA fees adding another €5 to the cost of a Dublin - Kerry ticket.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said

“John O’Donoghue’s Govt has increased costs on the Kerry – Dublin route by €19 per passengers over the last 18 months. When Ryanair asked his colleague Noel Dempsey to pay for these additional costs under the PSO contract Mr Dempsey refused. Perhaps John O'Donoghue should blame his colleague Noel Dempsey for the reduction (from 3 to 1) in flights on the Kerry – Dublin route rather than Ryanair.

John O’Donoghue’s claims that Ryanair has let down the people of Kerry are more hot air when Ryanair continues to operate four routes from Kerry to Dublin Frankfurt Hahn, London Luton and London Stansted. Ryanair is the only airline investing in Kerry Airport or the people of Kerry but we are not going to keep subsidising the anti-tourism policies of John O’Donoghue’s Govt.

If John O’Donoghue really cares about Kerry Airport he should persuade Noel Dempsey to pay these additional costs under he PSO contract, or better still reverse these Fianna Fáil imposed price increases which are ding such damage to Kerry and Irish tourism.”