Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has taken aim at Transport Minister Eamon Ryan for not using his authority to allow extra flights at the airport over the winter, which he claims could impact families travelling to Lapland to see Santa Claus,

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has called on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to issue a letter to the IAA to authorise slots for regular winter extra flights,

Ryanair has said it has reached an agreement with Leinster Rugby to use Belfast International Airport for away match flights over a row linked to additional winter slots at Dublin Airport. The budget carrier has claimed the extra slots at Dublin Airport normally allocated for the winter flights by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA),

Ryanair has arranged to fly the Leinster Rugby team to its European fixtures this season from Belfast instead of Dublin Airport, the airline said on Monday, amid an ongoing farrago over the annual passenger cap at the aviation hub.