Knock Airport to close for four weeks after suspension of all Ryanair flights

The airline said the move is down to a complete collapse in travel demand due to the impact of Covid-19.

Ireland West Airport in Mayo is to close for four weeks in November and December after Ryanair confirmed the suspension of all flights from the airport during that period. A statement by the airport on Wednesday confirmed that, due to the suspension of all Ryanair commercial flights from the airport, it will close on 14 November and reopen on 13 December. The airline said the decision to suspend the flights has come about due to a complete collapse in travel demand as a result of the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions currently in place. The news has been described as “a further devastating blow” for the airport and its staff, with passenger numbers having declined by 90% and annual passenger numbers forecast to decline to less than 150,000 for the full year, the lowest in over 20 years. The airport said it is calling on government to provide urgent support through an expanded regional airports programme. Such action is required, it said, for the airport to address the enormous financial losses to support and protect its cash position resulting from the devastating collapse in passenger traffic as a result of Covid-19, which has been further impacted following today’s announcement by Ryanair.