Ryanair announced today it is to add 12 new routes from Dublin in an expansion which is expected to create 200 jobs at Dublin Airport.
The new routes are Oslo, Madrid, Tampere in Finland, Vitoria in Spain, Billund in Denmark, Bologna in Italy, Grenoble in France, Friedrichshafen in Germany, Seville in Spain, Pula in Croatia, Almeria in Spain and Rzeszow in Poland.
The new routes will start in December bringing Ryanair's direct routes from Dublin to 63. The new services which come with a one-month special offer of €12 one-way will be serviced by three new aircraft operating from Dublin.
Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said the expansion will end Aer Lingus' "high fare monopoly" to destinations such as Madrid, Bologna, Almeria and Seville.
Dublin Airport Director, Robert Hilliard welcomed the news this afternoon, saying: "This announcement is very timely given that construction will commence next week on a our new Check-in area 14 which will be used by Ryanair when completed.
"This new check-in area will provide an additional 25 new check-in desks, will have capacity to cater for in excess of four million departing passengers per annum and will be delivered in December this year."
To mark the launch of the new routes Ryanair is offering an introductory one-way fare of €12 for bookings for the first month on "every seat on every one" of the routes (except Grenoble and Friedrichshafen). The offer will run for one week only.