Ryanair is planning to open 3 new routes from Knock to Eindhoven, Glasgow Prestwick & Kaunas from April 2014, as well as increased frequencies on its London route, which the carrier claims will deliver an additional 80,000 passengers per year and support 80 new on-site jobs at Knock.

This growth is part of the 1m extra passengers p.a. that Ryanair will deliver at the main Irish airports in a direct response to the Irish Government’s decision to scrap the €3 travel tax from April 2014.

Ryanair’s 3 new Knock routes will start in April 2014 and go on sale on the Ryanair.com website tomorrow. Following successful negotiations with Knock and Shannon, Ryanair is finalising its discussions with the other main Irish airports – Cork, Dublin and Kerry– to finalise its growth plans for summer 2014 and hopes to announce more route and frequency growth from Ireland in the coming weeks.

In Knock, Ryanair’s Michael Cawley said: “Ryanair is pleased to announce 3 new routes and increased frequencies on its London route from Knock from April 2014, which will deliver 80,000 new passengers p.a. and support up to 80 new on-site jobs at Knock. This growth is in direct response to the Government’s very welcome decision to scrap the €3 air travel tax from April 2014.

The scrapping of the travel tax will help restore Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness to overseas visitors from the UK and Continental Europe in particular. Having met with all five of the main Irish airports, and announced new growth for 2014 at Shannon and Knock, we hope to announce further new route and traffic growth plans over the coming weeks.” He added.