Ryanair Reintroduces Derry-Birmingham Route After Nearly a Decade

City of Derry Airport (LDY), Northern Ireland, is set to witness the return of Irish Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) Ryanair, as the airline expands its operations with a new route to Birmingham, England. This announcement marks the reconnection of the route to Ryanair’s network, following its suspension nearly 10 years ago in November 2014.

Starting from April 3rd, Ryanair will operate the LDY to Birmingham Airport route twice a week, utilizing Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Notably, Ryanair will be the exclusive operator offering nonstop flights on this route, according to data sourced from OAG Schedules Analyser.

LDY’s Managing Director, Steve Frazer, expressed the significance of adding Birmingham to the City of Derry network, stating, “Adding Birmingham to the City of Derry network is a key step forward in meeting the needs of our northwest region.” Utilizing ASM’s Catchment Analyser, Frazer highlighted a demand of over 180,000 annual passengers in the local catchment area, emphasizing that these new flights will bring ease and convenience to travelers in the northwest region.

Furthermore, Frazer believes that the reintroduction of this route will play a pivotal role in stimulating inward investment opportunities and tourism within the region.

As of now, Ryanair operates just one route from LDY, offering twice-weekly flights to Manchester Airport in England. Additionally, LDY receives scheduled air services from Scottish regional carrier Loganair, which provides three flights per week to Glasgow Airport and up to three daily flights to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) utilizing Embraer RJ145 aircraft.

The introduction of the LHR service in May, following a switch from London Stansted Airport as part of the public service obligation route, represented a significant milestone for LDY, as it brought enhanced hub connectivity for passengers traveling to and from Derry. With the return of the Derry-Birmingham route, LDY continues to strengthen its connectivity and options for travelers in the region.