Aer Lingus is switching a service from London to the west of Ireland from Gatwick to Heathrow.
Daily flights to Knock will be transferred to the west London hub from the start of the summer flying schedule on March 26.
The Irish carrier expects the move from Gatwick to Heathrow will drive additional point-to-point demand and increased connecting traffic.
Passengers due to fly from Gatwick after March 25 will be automatically rebooked on a same day flight at no additional cost.
The airline is seeking to capitalise on growing trend of ‘screen tourism’, which Tourism Ireland has identified as a key opportunity for 2023.
The Oscar nominated film, Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is showcasing the west of Ireland to a global audience.
Knock’s Ireland West airport is also a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way.
The route switch reinforces a commitment to Knock as the airport continues to rebound from the pandemic, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% last year, reaching 89% of pre-Covid 2019.
Chief strategy and planning officer Reid Moody said: “Our new route from Heathrow to Knock, accompanied with further network connectivity for our customers, is exciting for Aer Lingus and for the west of Ireland.
“With a direct service to one of Europe’s busiest airports, customers from the west will now be able to easily connect from Heathrow to destinations right across the globe.
“The service will also drive inbound tourism at a time when interest in visiting the West of Ireland is very high, with the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the beauty of the west of Ireland to millions of people globally.”
Ireland West airport managing director Joe Gilmore added: “The hub status of Heathrow for businesses to connect with the global marketplace is a potential game changer for this region, and from a tourism perspective the service will deliver a significant increase in tourism visits from all corners of the globe.”
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has cut fares by 30% from London, Manchester and Birmingham on selected routes to Ireland in a flash sale until February 3 for travel until March 31.