Aran initiative will allow direct flights to islands

Aran Islanders and visitors alike will now be able to fly direct to Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin for the first time, under a new deal.

The latest Public Service Obligation (PSO) with Aer Arann involves a €4.9 million contract to provide connectivity between Oileáin Árainn and the mainland for four years.

Up to now, flights to the small and middle island were stops on the Inis Mór service. But under the new PSO all three islands have direct services.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, said the PSO would provide certainty until 2026, and facilitate more tourists to visit the islands.

“This contract gives certainly to the communities of Oileáin Árainn. It ensures they can continue to avail of a year round, reliable and affordable air service to and from Aerfort Chonamara,” Minister Humphreys said.

“And for the first time, we will now have direct flights to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr – two wonderful island communities that are so steeped in history, culture and folklore. This is a fantastic development for these island communities.

“It also sends a huge signal out ahead of the summer tourism season. What better way to spend your summer holidays than on Oileáin Árainn or our other offshore islands,” she added.

Jarlath Conneely, Managing Director of Aer Arann Islands, told the Connacht Tribune he was ‘delighted’ with the announcement by Minister Humphreys.

“The new contract allows flexibility in our flight scheduling that will greatly enhance the service we provide. The air service also benefits Galway City and County where visitors to the Aran Islands stop over.

“The staff at Aer Arann Islands have always had a great appreciation of the value of the air service, particularly to those living on the Islands and have worked hard to provide a first-class service.

“We are pleased that both the Department of Rural and Community Development and the people of the Aran Islands have confidence in our ability to continue to provide the service into the future,” Mr Conneely said.

Micheál Ó Ghoill, chair of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo on Inis Mór, said islanders broadly welcomed the new contract.

They haven’t yet been given the full details of the contract, and the new flight schedule, but they plan to meet with officials in the Department to discuss it.

Islanders had sought an inter-island service but the Department confirmed to the Co-Op that that would not be included but there would be more flexibility. The direct service to Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin was another positive, he said.

Speaking in Irish, he said the overall contract was positive; there were more flights, and there was a good relationship now between Islanders, Department and Aer Arann.

Manager of Comhar Caomhán Teo on Inis Oírr, Chloe Ní Mháille welcomed flexibility in the new PSO contract, and news that Aer Arann can fly directly to the two smaller islands.

“It’s fantastic to have the security too, that the funding is in place for the next four years; for job security of people employed on the islands, and at the airport in Indreabhán,” she said.

Inis Oírr had around 280 residents in the 2016 Census, but there were seven births during Covid and several islanders have returned to live there, bringing the population to around 300.

The majority of islanders are employed directly or indirectly in tourism, but the flights are vital for connectivity to the mainland for local residents, Ms Ni Mháille said. She pointed out that the air service also provided a postal service for the islands.

Inis Oírr, she said, can’t always guarantee a functioning pier, and there are days when there is overtopping and it is unsafe for the ferry to dock.

“Without the plane, I don’t know would we be such a vibrant island,” she said.

Tarlach de Blácam of Inis Meáin Co-Op told RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta that it was good news for all three islands. He said there was a positive attitude from the Government towards the service, compared with previous contract negotiations.

The new contract will provide 68,274 PSO seats annually to the three islands and will operate from Aerfort Chonamara in Indreabhán, which was purchased by the State in 2019 for €2.75 million.

In April 2021, the Department agreed a four-year contract worth €5.6 million with Galway Aviation Services Limited to provide day-to-day management services of Aerfort Chonamara and the aerodromes on the three islands.

The latest PSO contract introduces a flexible scheduling scheme that will allow Aer Arann to better respond to local service demands, such as island festivals and events.

‘Ad Hoc’ and ‘Scheduled non-PSO’ flights will also be provided by the operator to meet any demand above the agreed PSO seating allocation.