‘Very successful’ protest to secure the future of Donegal-Dublin flight

A “very successful” protest took place at Donegal Airport over the future of Public Service Obligation flights operated by Emerald Airlines. 

Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional) operates the government-funded PSO flights between Donegal and Dublin. This contract was extended to run until February 25, 2026, with a new procurement process underway, which will mean the loss of the afternoon flight between Carrickfinn and Dublin Airport.

The protest was organised by Independent Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig to begin when the afternoon flight arrived and end when the flight departed. 

Representatives Charles Ward TD, Councillor Denis McGee and Councillor Tomás Sean Devine from the 100% Redress Party were in attendance. 

“It went really well, I would say about 200 people were there,” Councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig told DonegalLive. “It was very successful. We don’t have any road infrastructure and the government now thinks it's okay to take care of the interests of an airline instead of what the people need. I would like to thank the airport staff and everyone who turned out.”

READ NEXT: ‘The people of Donegal are rightly outraged at the new proposed contract’

A petition, titled Cosain Eitiltí Ailse Dhún na nGall / Protect Donegal Cancer Flights on Change.org, wants to guarantee the continuation of genuine same-day return access for cancer patients and others travelling for essential medical appointments. It has been signed by over 12,000 people who want to protect the vital service.

The petition reads: “We, the undersigned, call on the Minister to protect and guarantee the Donegal–Dublin PSO air service so it continues to provide genuine same-day return travel, especially for cancer patients and essential medical appointments.

“This route is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. It is funded as a PSO because Donegal is geographically isolated and not adequately served by alternative transport. The Department of Transport has described the service as: “providing twice daily two-way air services facilitating same-day return trips from Donegal.” That is the standard the timetable must meet.

“Proposed timetable changes risk making same-day medical travel impractical, forcing patients into overnight stays, extra cost, and unnecessary strain — a PSO in name only.

“We call on the Minister to guarantee in writing that genuine same-day return medical access is a mandatory, non-negotiable PSO requirement, and that any tender, contract award, or timetable approval must be assessed against that core purpose.

“We want to protect workable flight times that actually deliver same-day access, including early Dublin arrivals, late Donegal returns, and the retention of the current midday service, which must remain within the PSO schedule, to ring-fence the midday flight as an essential PSO connection, and guarantee it will not be removed, downgraded, or shifted outside the PSO in any contract change, timetable revision, or ‘commercial’ reclassification.

“Ensure full transparency and accountability in how PSO timetables are proposed and approved, including publication of the Department’s criteria, the medical-access impact assessment, and the decision rationale, so Donegal patients are not left guessing after the fact.”

Minister Boxer Moran met with the Donegal Cancer Flights & Services committee, led by Mary Coyle, in Gweedore. During the meeting, Minister Moran confirmed that he will contact An Taoiseach Micheál Martin directly to explore all possible avenues to protect and strengthen the service. He also confirmed that he is meeting with the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien T.D., on Monday, and that the Donegal–Dublin PSO will be discussed as part of that agenda.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme