- Derry to Dublin PSO flight delayed beyond October
- Request for Tenders not yet published
- Contract expected to be awarded before end of 2026
- Route fully backed by Irish Government via Shared Island Fund
- Service important for communities in Donegal including Inishowen
The long-awaited Derry to Dublin Public Service Obligation flight service has been officially delayed beyond its anticipated October 2026 launch date. The Department of Transport confirmed that the service will miss its original October target because a formal Request for Tenders has not yet been published. Currently there is no confirmed airline, flight timetable or definitive booking start date.
The government has stated that it expects to issue the tender documentation shortly with the revised objective being to award the operational contract before the end of 2026 and flights commencing as soon as operationally feasible for the winning airline. The daily twice-retracting route is being fully backed by the Irish Government under a PSO subsidy framework via the Shared Island Fund.
Operating out of the City of Derry Airport the 45-minute flight is designed to improve business and regional transit to Dublin Airport bypassing a three-hour road trip. A direct government-subsidised Derry to Dublin route was originally axed in 2011 with plans to revive it gaining traction following delays to major regional road infrastructure improvements like the A5 project. The route is particularly important for communities in Donegal including Inishowen.
