Ferguson joins in celebrations as new Manchester service begins

Ireland West Airport Knock last week welcomed Sir Alex Ferguson as they officially launched their new service to Manchester with Europe's largest regional Flybe. The new service will operate year round with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for the winter season with additional frequencies planned for the summer season. It's a major boost for the airport and the region as it maintains essential connectivity between the West of Ireland and Manchester, a route which has been in place for the past ten years with bmibaby. Andrew Strong, Flybe UK's Managing Director, comments: "As Europe's largest regional airline, we recognise the importance of keeping Ireland on the move and remain committed to expanding our regional network to contribute to the growth of the local business and tourism economies. The new route between Knock and Manchester has been well received by passengers from both regions and we are looking forward to carrying many thousands of business and leisure passengers between these two popular destinations." This new service also opens up access to major International routes on the Flybe network with passengers now able to book onward flights to Europes most popular tourist destination Paris which will now be easily bookable through Manchester from Ireland West Knock. Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock added 'We are delighted to launch this new service to Manchester with Europes largest Regional airline, Flybe. The uninterrupted continuation of our Manchester service will come as welcome news to the thousands of people who use this service for visiting friends and relatives, travelling to football matches and also those who use it for business purposes. We are particularly delighted that this service offers for the first time onward connectivity to Paris, Europes biggest tourist destination. Furthermore this is Flybe's second route launched from the airport in 2011 following the introduction of their Edinburgh service last April and these new routes are a major vote in confidence in our airport as Flybe continue to grow at our airport'. Flights from Ireland West Airport Knock to Manchester will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. For further airport information log onto www.irelandwestairport.com; and for information on fares and to book flights log onto www.flybe.com.