The City of Derry Airport is celebrating a significant milestone with Loganair, having reached 400,000 passengers on its year-round service between Derry and Glasgow airports. This highlights the vital role the City of Derry Airport plays in enhancing connectivity across the North West and the broader region.

Long-time travellers Eleanor and Gerry Loughlin, who live in Glasgow, have been passengers on this route for over 40 years. Originally from Glasgow and Donegal, respectively, the couple used the route frequently while living in Donegal, flying back to Scotland to visit Eleanor’s family. Now based in Glasgow, they continue to use the service to reconnect with friends and family in Donegal and Strabane.

Carol Ventre, Cabin Crew at Loganair; Gerry Loughlin, Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport; and Eleanor Loughlin.

Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, said:

“It is a pleasure to join Loganair in celebrating this milestone and in thanking our wonderful passengers, Eleanor and Gerry, who have been proud supporters of the airline and City of Derry Airport for many years.

“The historical tie between Glasgow and the Northwest is as strong as ever as we continually see a high number of passengers who frequently commute to visit family and friends throughout the year, outlining the essential requirement for this service in connecting our two city regions.”

Luke Lovegrove, Chief Commercial Officer at Loganair, said:

“Reaching 400,000 passengers at City of Derry Airport is a testament to the strong demand for reliable, regional air services. We’re proud to have played a part in maintaining these vital connections over the years, and are especially pleased to celebrate this milestone with such longstanding customers as Eleanor and Gerry.”

Derry Airport is also celebrating the launch of new easyJet services to Edinburgh and Liverpool, which will begin taking off from their runways on Monday, November 4th.

The new routes will enhance domestic connectivity, catering to the demand for travel between Northern Ireland and major UK cities. Whether customers are planning a city break, visiting friends and family, requiring a convenient business link, or connecting to further flights to destinations across Europe and beyond, these routes will meet their needs.

City of Derry Airport’s Brenda Morgan MBE, Head of Business Development and Steve Frazer, Managing Director 

With nearly half a million passengers travelling between the North West and Glasgow alone, this marks a significant boost for our tourism industry, highlighting the North West as a premier destination to visit and explore. A recent report from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has shown that in 2023 there were an estimated 5.4million overnight trips in Northern Ireland, with associated expenditure of £1.2billion. The NISRA figures also indicate that the benefits of tourism are felt across the north with over three quarters of tourism businesses operating outside the Belfast City Council area.

The appeal of Derry as a prime tourist destination, along with the City of Derry Airport as the major vehicle of connectivity in the North West, has undoubtedly contributed to these positive figures.

Connecting the North West to the world, the City of Derry Airport plays a clear and vital role in promoting connectivity and supporting our local industries.