Ryanair says the Newcastle-Dublin route is a success

The announcement will bring more Irish visitors to the city, which is bidding to become European Capital of Culture in partnership with Gateshead.

There will be two flights a day from Tyneside to the Irish capital each day, compared to one at present.

The new flights will resume on Sunday, 30 March, with single flights starting at �19.99 one way, before tax.

There will be an additional flight from Dublin to Newcastle at 2045 GMT, and from Newcastle to Dublin at 2210 GMT.

The present 0915 GMT Dublin to Newcastle service, and return from Tyneside at 1040 GMT, will continue.

Passenger numbers up

The Newcastle to Dublin service began on 4 January, 2003.

Ryanair's UK Sales Manager Kathryn Munro said: "The Newcastle to Dublin route has been a winner from day one, and the latest news is a double success.

"Tourist bosses are delighted with the numbers of incoming visitors to the North East, while local people are flocking in droves to Dublin."

The news comes after a successful Christmas period for the Tyneside airport, with passenger numbers well up on the festive season for 2001.

Low-cost airline Easyjet is to fly to six new destinations from Newcastle Airport during the year.

New services this year include flights to Alicante, Barcelona and Belfast, due to begin in March, and flights to Paris, Prague, and Bristol, starting five months later.