Kerry Airport Announces Plans For Coming Year And Confirms Seven Routes

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Kerry Airport

CONFIRMATION of seven routes for 2020, a new-look website and a charity partner to underline plans to reach out to communities more throughout the Kingdom are among Kerry Airport’s key plans as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Kerry Airport was officially opened on Saturday 30th August 1969 by the then Minister for Transport and Power, Brian Lenihan TD, and 50 years on the vision of its founding fathers has been realised in the shape of a successful and respected international airport.

Half a century on from that historic occasion, modern passengers will be delighted to learn that Ryanair will continue to serve Kerry with flights to Berlin and Frankfurt Hahn in Germany, London Luton and Stansted in the UK and, to the delight of sun-seekers, Alicante and Faro in 2020.

The short 50 minutes journey from Kerry to Dublin is a major saving in time for busy Kerry businesses needing access to Dublin and onward to destinations in the USA, Middle East and Australia. Seamless interlining of the Aer Lingus flights from USA to Kerry via Dublin is seeing increased American tourists coming direct to the Kingdom.

The CEO of Kerry Airport, John Mulhern, said: “Over the next 12 months, as Kerry Airport celebrates its 50th anniversary, we will honour past accomplishments and ensure the airport’s continued success and contribution to the community of Kerry and the wider region. Our airport is situated in Wild Atlantic Kerry – the most prime location in Ireland with so much potential and with enough charm to continue filling flights with passengers from all over Europe.”

Another key development moving forward, to the benefit of passengers traveling in and out of Kerry and the hospitality sector in the county, is the development of the new-look and easy to navigate airport website – www.kerryairport.ie.

The economic footprint of Kerry Airport influences employment and the earnings of those directly employed at the airport, the support services onsite and in the supply chain. Kerry Airport contributes approximately €9.5 million to the local economy each year.

The website, which has undergone a major transformation, offers visitors a streamlined view of Kerry as an accessible destination and gateway. It presents the timetable in an easy-to-view format along with the essential live flight information which is updated regularly.

John Mulhern has announced that Kerry Airport will team up with Pieta House for 2020.

“The wellbeing of passengers is a priority for our airport and when immersed every day in tourists enjoying our beautiful county it can be easy to lose sight of those; often male, often farmers, often struggling with small businesses, often battling existing mental health issues without support who increasingly find themselves marginalised and isolated in rural Ireland.  In choosing Pieta House as our charity partner for 2020, Kerry Airport has rightly identified with an organisation equally concerned about this increasing marginalisation of rural Ireland and the isolation many feel as population centres and opportunities for social interaction shift relentlessly into urban centres. Pieta House has a dedicated team working in Kerry to support people and communities in crisis by providing freely accessible, professional services to all who may be affected by suicide,” he said.

Commenting on the partnership between Pieta House and Kerry Airport, Elaine Austin, CEO of Pieta House, said: “We are very privileged to be part of Kerry Airport’s vision and next phase of growth to support people and communities in crisis – those at risk of suicide, engaging in self harm, or those bereaved by suicide to replace this with hope, self-care and acceptance. 1 in 7 adults have experienced mental health issues in the last 12 months and it costs approximately €1,000 to bring one person through our services each year so community fundraising is vital to sustain the level of care needed. Our annual ‘Darkness into Light’ events and current ‘FeelGood with Pieta’ campaign aims to raise vital funds for these services to make it easy for people to ask for and to get the help they need, to make a difference in their lives, to feel better. At its heart, Pieta is about working with people to lift levels of suicidal ideation, to help them bring hope back into their lives and to improve their levels of self-care, and support people and families that have been impacted by the loss of a loved one by suicide.”

Kerry Airport and Pieta House will team-up in the coming months to launch the 2020 Darkness Into Light Walks in Kerry as well as other events that will raise funds for and awareness of the great work being done by the volunteers and friends of Pieta.

Kerry Airport is ideally located for anyone wishing to travel on business or pleasure with direct flights to seven destinations including: London-Stansted, London-Luton, Frankfurt-Hahn, Berlin, Alicante & Faro with Ryanair and to Dublin with Aer Lingus Regional.  There is ample and great value parking at Kerry Airport as well as friendly service.

For more information about Kerry Airport, please visit www.KerryAirport.ie or contact +353 66 9764644.