Aer Arann has entered a franchise agreement with Nex Aviation adding four new routes to the Aer Arann network. The new destinations are Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Malaga, and Faro. The new services will come into effect 1 May 2008 from Galway Airport and Waterford Airport.

Commenting on the announcement, Garry Cullen, Managing Director at Aer Arann, said: “This announcement represents significant route opportunity for Aer Arann. These four new destinations will provide greater choice and easier access to continental Europe for our customers in the west and south east of Ireland. In addition to the sun destinations, this route expansion offers services to Amsterdam Schiphol. Schiphol offers the best connections of any airport in the world, with more than 260 destinations in 91 countries”.

The new route expansion comes on the back of a franchise deal between Aer Arann and Nex Aviation. The services will be sold as part of the Aer Arann network. The 100 seater BAE 146-200 jet has leather seats and a generous seat pitch of 31 inches. This aircraft will operate alongside Aer Arann’s current fleet of 14 ATR turbo-prop aircraft. This announcement follows the 2007 delivery of two new ATR 72-500 aircraft, the first in a fleet of 10 to be delivered by 2009.

Mr. Cullen continued: “Aer Arann’s partnership with Nex Aviation allows us to expand our range and underpins the Aer Arann strategy of connecting regional Ireland to the UK and mainland Europe. Of course, the inflight experience offered on board will be the same high quality that Aer Arann’s passengers expect”.

Amsterdam Schiphol Director Aviation Marketing, Jop van Unnik, said: “Amsterdam Schiphol is the fifth largest airport in Europe and offers the best connections of any airport in the world, with more than 260 destinations in 91 countries. We are delighted that Aer Arann has chosen to fly to Amsterdam Schiphol and offer great connectivity to the south-east and the west of Ireland”.

The new services will come into effect on 1 May 2008 from Galway Airport and Waterford Airport.