Knock begins flights to the Spanish sun

Launching the new twice weekly scheduled service to Alicante  International Airport from Ireland West Airport Knock with Ryanair.

Knock begins flights to the Spanish sun


Anton McNulty

THERE was not much talk of elections in Knock Airport on Friday afternoon with the talk instead centred around the first ever scheduled flights from the airport to continental Europe.
At just past 12 noon, excited passengers became the first to board the first ever scheduled flights from Ireland West Airport Knock to a European destination outside the UK, when Ryanair commenced a twice weekly service direct to Alicante International airport in southern Spain. The introduction of Alicante now brings to ten the number of scheduled destinations available at IWAK and compliments its additional network of ten European holiday destinations.
The flights will allow people greater choice on choosing a holiday in the  Mediterranean sun but the Chairman of IWAK, Liam Scollan also believes it will attract Spanish visitors to the west.
“I am conscious also of the potential for TEFL schools (schools which teach English as a foreign language) and other businesses in the west and north west of Ireland to use this service to attract Spanish visitors direct to this region.  Last year 243,500 Spanish people visited Ireland and Irish tourism businesses do have opportunities here,” he said. “This new service to Alicante is the first ever low cost, seat-only service to a major European tourist destination from Ireland West Airport Knock. There will be less and less need for people from the west and north west to take the long trek to Dublin when there is such a convenience as Ireland West Airport Knock on their doorstep in the west of Ireland.”
The new service will operate until the end of October and to celebrate the launch, Ryanair will be releasing 5,000 seats on flights from IWAK to Alicante for €35 for travel in June, July, September and October.