Knock Airport lands Birmingham and Edinburgh services

Regional airline Flybe will launch year-round services between Knock Airport in Co Mayo and Birmingham and Edinburgh from next year.

Knock said on Monday that the airline will launch both services next March and fly to both Birmingham and Edinburgh six times a week.

The anouncement means that the airport will serve nine destinations in England and Scotland from next year.

Edinburgh attracts more than one million tourists a-year. Flybe’s service will be the only direct link to the Scottish capital from the north west.

Birmingham was one of the longest-established destinations from the Mayo airport since it first opened until a previous service halted last year.

Flybe's chief commercial officer, Paul Simmons, also confirmed that the airline is adding 5,000 extra seats to its Manchester service, which enjoyed a record year in 2015.

Ireland West Airport Knock managing director, Joe Gilmore, welcomed the expansion of Flybe's services.