Thousands of passengers from across the region stretching from the Northern Ireland counties to Tipperary as well as from the US, have chosen and availed of the Ireland West Airport Knock transatlantic services to both New York and Boston with airline flyglobespan. Since the routes commenced on May 27th last there has been an extraordinary welcome uptake among passengers on the transatlantic routes. Given that the announcement of the new routes just came twelve weeks before the routes commenced the sales figures demonstrate consistently high load factors of between 84% to 97% on both routes which the Airport is most pleased with.  August is set to be the busiest month since the two transatlantic services began with, an expected 6,000 passengers booked on the flights. 

The positive response and bookings on the Ireland West Knock US routes with flyglobespan for summer 2007 has confirmed the long established fact that there is a huge demand from both sides of the Atlantic for a regular air connection between the region to the East Coast of America. The New York service, which operates three times per week, and the Boston service, which operates twice a week, have laid strong foundations for further development of the transatlantic routes operating through Ireland West Airport Knock. The success of summer 2007 is a positive sign that there is a demand for further expansion and that the existing routes will go from strength to strength.

Annette Kearney, Marketing & Communications Manager, Ireland West Airport Knock said: "It is welcoming to note that we have succeeded in attracting a number of leading US tour operators who have developed specific West and North West of Ireland holiday packages for US tourists encompassing the many often undiscovered attractions and range of accommodation offers which the region has to offer – with each reporting very positive demands for these new packages. Since the start, we have rolled out an extensive overseas marketing campaign and in conjunction with flyglobespan, the regional tourism authorities of Failte Ireland West Region and Failte Ireland North West Region, Tourism Ireland and, our Airport will continue to strive to develop and grow this market for the benefit of the region."

Ireland West Airport Knock is pleased to report that services to New York and Boston have been running well to schedule and the Airport staff have received many letters of appreciation and support from customers from both sides of the Atlantic welcoming the services to the West and North West region of Ireland. In particular, the tourism industry in the region is seeing the impact of the flights with more bookings and sightseers from the US visiting the region.

Commenting on the future of transatlantic routes from Ireland West Airport Knock,  Liam Scollan, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock  said: "There is no doubt that there were initial operational issues with the first schedule transatlantic flights from Ireland West Airport Knock however we can see a steady improvement in demand, punctuality and reliability  as a result we can be certain that the foundations have been laid for further regular transatlantic services from the West and North West region in the near future"