Donegal Airport
| Donegal Airport Irish: Aerfort Dhún na nGall | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | IATA: CFN, ICAO: EIDL |
| County | County Donegal |
| Public | |
| Location | 55.0441667, -8.3411111 55°2’39"N, 8°20’28"W |
| Runway(s) | 4,908 feet (Bitumen/Macadam) |
| Website | www.donegalairport.ie |
Donegal Airport ((IATA: CFN, ICAO: EIDL)) is located 2 nautical miles south-west of Bunbeg in Carrickfinn, a townland in The Rosses, a district in north-western County Donegal. The airport is on the county's north-west coast. about a 15-minute drive from Dungloe and Gweedore and 45 minutes from Letterkenny. It is popularly known within County Donegal as Carrickfinn Airport.
The airport was voted the world's most scenic landing spot in 2018, 2019, and 2020.[1][2]
History
Until the mid-1980s, the runway was a grass strip. This was replaced by a hard surface runway with temporary buildings. The airport started operations in 1986 and was developed with funds and assistance from the Government of Ireland, private investors, Donegal County Council, the International Fund for Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund. In the 1990s the runway was extended to 4,920 feet and a new terminal building with modern navigational aids and equipment was added.
In 2007, the airport received a heavy grant of taxpayers' money. A domestic service to Dublin was established by Aer Arann. Aer Arann operated flights to Cork via Dublin in 2009 until they reduced their Cork-Dublin service to six times per week. The route closed in March 2010. In February 2010, Aer Arann closed its service to Glasgow Prestwick Airport and relocated to Glasgow International Airport.[3]
Late 2000s and early 2010s, CityJet operated a Saturday seasonal charter flight to Rotterdam between April and September using a Fokker 50.
Service to Dublin was operated from 2012 to 2015 by Loganair and Flybe using a Saab 340 which rotated via Glasgow to provide aircraft and crew replenishment. Stobart Air, operating as Aer Lingus Regional, received public service obligation funding from the Irish Government to subsidise the route to Dublin. A contract was awarded in 2014, and the service commenced on 1 March 2015, using an ATR 42-300, until the demise of Stobart Air, in June 2021.
In July 2021, Amapola Flyg a Swedish regional airline was awarded the PSO route from Dublin to Donegal, as a temporary measure following the demise of Stobart Air.[4]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Donegal Airport) |
References
- ↑ "Donegal Airport named as the world's most beautiful landing spot". Donegal Now. 10 April 2018. https://www.donegalnow.com/news/donegal-airport-named-worlds-beautiful-landing-spot/218373. "Donegal Airport has been named the world’s most beautiful landing spot by global travel fans"
- ↑ "Donegal Airport voted most scenic in the world for second year running". Irish Times. 22 March 2019. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/donegal-airport-voted-most-scenic-in-the-world-for-second-year-running-1.3834539. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ↑ "AER ARANN ANNOUNCE NEW ROUTE TO GLASGOW". http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/laranews-net/aer-arann-to-fly-donegal-glasgow-drops-prestwick/5668/.
- ↑ O'Halloran, Barry (2021-07-15). "Swedish airline will fly Dublin-Donegal route". The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/swedish-airline-will-fly-dublin-donegal-route-1.4621713. Retrieved 2021-10-21.