Ryanair announced that it is to launch four new routes commencing in March 2012 from Barcelona Girona, Frankfurt Hahn, Milan Bergamo and Paris Beauvais. The four new routes are expected to generate 500,000 passengers creating 500 new jobs in the Mayo region Belfast Telegraph (21^st November)  

These new routes will make the West and North West more accessible to the time sensitive short-break market, as tourists will no longer have to travel via Belfast or Dublin. These new routes will open a new market to attractions such as Achill Island, Croagh Patrick, The National Museum of Ireland, Westport House, and The Great Western Greenway.

These new routes will underpin Ireland West Knock Airport as the fastest growing airport in Ireland, with traffic up 14% in the first seven months of the year with 451,186 passengers and it reported 84,000 passengers used the airport last August up 6% its busiest ever.

A report in Anna.Aero on the 2nd of June stated the busiest routes in 2010 where dominated by the London airports served, London Stansted, Luton and Gatwick with an average load factor of 65%. There is a large visiting family and friends (VFR) market between London and Mayo.

Ireland West Knock Airport generates €62 million for the wider economy with 800,000 bed nights supporting 115 full-time jobs and 786 indirect jobs in the region Ireland West Knock Airport Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 (20th September 2007). On the 27th of July 2010 it was announced the government was commencing a feasibility study into the establishment of an Enterprise Park Mayo News (13tH July 2010).

Interestingly Ireland West Knock Airport Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 (20th September 2007) made reference to re-opening the Western Rail Corridor to provide sustainable public transport access. In the present new National Development Plan 2012-16 phases 2 and 3 are put on hold until finance becomes available.

The case to re-open the railway line from Claremorris to Charlestown at a future date only will grow as Ireland West Knock Airport as traffic grows from 750,000 passengers in 2012. There is a case to develop an eco-friendly tourist product using Ireland West Knock as a focal point for the region leveraging the potential of the Western Rail Corridor and the new cycling trails in the county the Great West Greenway and plans to extend cycling trails to Galway and Sligo.