AMAPOLA has applied to become the permanent operator of the flight route linking Donegal Airport with Dublin.

The Swedish airline was awarded a short-term contract for the route in July following the sudden collapse of Stobart Air. Since then it has been flying twice a day in both directions using a 50-seater Fokker 50 turbo-prop aircraft.

Following Stobart’s departure, an emergency trawl for someone to take over the route on a long-term basis was launched. The invite for applications expired on October 29 but when asked  how much interest it had received, the Department of Transport refused to say.

“It is expected that any new contract issued as a result of this Request for Tender will be effective from February 26, 2022 and the contract award will be made in line with this timeframe.

“As the procurement process is underway, the department cannot comment on the number of bids received,” said a spokesperson.

Amapola though has confirmed to the Donegal News its interest in operating the route on a long-term schedule.

“We can confirm that we have submitted the tender for a more permanent basis,” said an airline official.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Malmo, Amapola employs 50 people. It operated initially as a postal service airline and only began passenger flights in 2018. Donegal to Dublin is its only route outside of Scandinavia.

The new contract is for an operator from the end of February 2022 for three years.

The contract will stipulate that on weekdays flight schedules must include an early morning flight from Donegal Airport, departing before 8am and a late evening flight from Dublin, departing after 6.30pm.

The department has estimated the cost of running the service is €17m for the three years.

The Public Service Obligation contract allows for the payment of a subsidy to cover costs including an up to eight per-cent profit margin for the winning airline.

Subject to a satisfactory review, the department says it will be able to extend the term of the contract for a period of up to one year with a maximum of one such extension.