Irish ULCC Ryanair is expanding its operations from City of Derry Airport (LDY), Northern Ireland, with a route to Birmingham, England. The service returns to the airline’s network after an absence of almost 10 years following a decision to suspend flights in November 2014.

Service between LDY and Birmingham Airport will commence from April 3, operating twice a week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Ryanair will be the sole operator of nonstop flights on the sector, according to data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser.

“Adding Birmingham to the City of Derry network is a key step forward in meeting the needs of our northwest region,” LDY Managing Director Steve Frazer tells Routes.

“Using ASM’s Catchment Analyser, we can see a demand on this route of over 180,000 annual passengers in our local catchment, so these new flights will provide ease and convenience for travelers to and from the northwest region,” Frazer adds.

Frazer says that the service will also help to stimulate inward investment opportunities and tourism into the region.

Ryanair operates one route from LDY at present, flying twice a week to England's Manchester Airport. The airport also receives scheduled air service from Scottish regional carrier Loganair, which offers three flights per week to Glasgow Airport and up to 3X-daily to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) using Embraer RJ145 aircraft.

The arrival of the LHR service last May—after the public service obligation route switched from London Stansted Airport—represented a significant win for LDY, providing hub connectivity for passengers traveling from Derry.