Ryanair's confirmed it's launching a Kerry - Dublin service on July 28th.
It was previously operated by Stobart Air which collapsed last month.
Ryanair says it hopes to make an unsubsidised commercial service between Kerry and Dublin viable for the long term.
Five days ago, the airline accused Transport Minister Eamon Ryan's statement that it would be taking over the service from July 19th as premature and inaccurate.
Ryanair says will operate the Kerry-Dublin service without any subvention or subsidy under the government's Public Service Obligation scheme. It claims this will save the taxpayer almost €4 million per annum in PSO subsidies.
In a press release, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said that to make this commercial service viable, it will need lower costs at Kerry and Dublin airports as recommended by the Government's Aviation Task Force, which Mr Wilson said remains unactioned by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan more than 12 months after it was submitted to him.
Minister Ryan announced last Friday that the airline was to operate the Kerry-Dublin service for the next seven months and that Ryanair would operate the route on a commercial basis without the need for Government funding or PSO.
Ryanair's statement today largely reflects what the Minister said with one difference - Eamon Ryan had stated that the airline would begin running the route from July 19th while Ryanair says it will start on July 28th.
When the airline issued a statement last Friday it confirmed it had offered to operate a non-subsidised Kerry-Dublin service but that the agreement hadn't been concluded, it had not been consulted on the minister's announcement and that his statement was premature and inaccurate.
