Two significant announcements this week have underlined renewed confidence and growth for the North West region.

The Irish Government has confirmed that flights between Derry and Dublin will return in 2026 as part of its expanded Shared Island initiative. The restoration of this Public Service Obligation (PSO) route will reconnect the North West directly with Dublin for the first time since 2011, improving access for businesses, visitors, and students alike.

Welcoming the news that fights between City of Derry Airport and Dublin Airport are set to recommence, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce CEO, Anna Doherty, said:
“This week’s announcement by the Irish Government that funding will be provided for re-opening the flight route between Derry and Dublin is very welcome news.

“The restoration of the Dublin route will provide crucial connectivity for the North West, opening up new opportunities for trade, investment and growth across our region.

“The City of Derry Airport acts as a key gateway for tourism and connectivity in the North West, and this flight route being restored for the first time since 2011 has the potential to be an economic catalyst for our region”

Meanwhile, plans for two new veterinary schools — one at Chamber member Atlantic Technological University (ATU), and another at South East Technological University (SETU) — will double the number of available places in veterinary medicine from 2026. The expansion at ATU will help address long-standing skills shortages and open new opportunities for students across the region.

Derry Chamber welcomes this continued investment in connectivity and education – two key pillars for our local economy. The return of the Derry-Dublin flight route will strengthen business and tourism links, while the expansion of veterinary education at ATU will unlock new opportunities for our local students, and together demonstrate real momentum for the North West.

The Chamber warmly welcomes both initiatives as part of a broader pattern of cross-border collaboration and investment that is helping to build a more connected, skilled, and competitive North West.

This builds upon calls for ambitious regional collaboration by Chamber President Andrew Fleming at last week’s memorable President’s Annual Dinner:
“Ambitious regional collaborations is the theme of my year as President… In practice that has meant looking beyond the boundaries that have defined us.

“The most powerful signal of progress is not a new building or statistic. It’s when a young person chooses to stay, when a parent believes their child’s best chance is here, and when that child agrees.”

Read Andrew’s full speech here.