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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shaun Keenan

Campaigner calls for Dublin flight to be reinstated at Derry Airport

A local campaigner is calling for the former Derry to Dublin flight to be reinstated.

Flights operated by Aer Arann from the Derry Airport to Dublin ceased over a decade ago in 2011, leaving people who would regularly use the service in limbo.

Local author Hazel McIntyre, who lives in Donegal, regularly travels to Dublin with her husband Charles who suffers from lung cancer.

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She said the long journey is leaving him "utterly exhausted" upon their return to the northwest.

"Immunology is the only lung cancer treatment that might give Charles more time," Hazel said.

"It is only available at The Mater Private. One night's bed costs €1,500 and each treatment ten thousand, {which we have to] pay in advance.

"The HSE won't fund it due to costs. So, [we're between] a rock and a hard place.

"Now I am trying to get the Derry to Dublin flight brought back as this would be the best travel to Dublin for the many who are old and sick travelling to Dublin for treatment.

"Please support my cause and urge politicians to come on board."

The plea comes days after SDLP Infrastructure Minister granted £3million to the Derry Airport in a move that will 'secure the airport’s future and help to facilitate growth'.

Speaking after the announcement, Colum Eastwood said "a properly resourced airport would make it easier for people to visit our city and create new opportunities for Derry".

Meanwhile, in 2016 it was anticipated that operator Citywing Aviation Services would run a service between the two airports.

However, that was later quashed following the Brexit referendum.

In a statement at the time, Derry City and Strabane District, who run the Derry airport, said: "Citywing's proposed new Dublin to Derry service will not commence operation.

"The proposed new route was due to be part-funded by the Governments Regional Air Connectivity Fund, but also required additional funding.

"The impact of the referendum vote in favour of Brexit has led to significant devaluation in the pound sterling, given that the airline industry operates in Euro and Dollars, the economics of the route deteriorated to a position which has made the operation of this route commercially difficult."

In March 2017, Citywing ceased trading and went into liquidation.

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